Olympics 2024 Badminton: Tanisha Crasto & Ashwini Ponnappa Out of Medal Contention in Women's Doubles Event

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In a disappointing turn of events for Indian badminton fans, the women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto has been eliminated from medal contention at the Paris Olympics 2024.

The duo faced a significant setback after suffering their second consecutive defeat in the group stage, which dashed their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals.

In their latest Group C encounter, Ponnappa and Crasto were up against the formidable Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, who are ranked fourth in the world. The Indian team struggled to find their footing throughout the Group C match, which lasted 48 minutes.

The Japanese duo showcased their superior skills and coordination, winning convincingly with scores of 21-11, 21-12. This defeat followed their initial loss to the South Korean pair of Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong, who are known for their strong performance on the court.

The South Korean team defeated the Australian pair, Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu, in straight sets (21-12, 21-17). This victory for the South Koreans pretty much seals the fate of the Indian duo, as it leaves no chance for Ponnappa and Crasto to advance, even if they win their final group match against the Australian team.

With only the top two pairs from each group advancing to the quarterfinals, the Indian pair's two consecutive losses have ensured their early exit from the tournament.

The Indian duo is set to play the Australian pair of Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu on July 30, Tuesday, in their final Group C clash. Currently, Ponnappa and Crasto, who hold the 19th spot in the world rankings, are positioned third in Group C, trailing behind the Japanese and South Korean pairs.

Their inability to secure victories in the initial matches has proven costly, highlighting the challenging nature of the competition at the Olympic level. The journey for Ponnappa and Crasto at the Paris Olympics has been a tough one.

Despite their efforts and determination, they were unable to overcome the top-tier pairs in their group. This early exit marks a setback for the Indian badminton contingent, which had high hopes for a medal in the women's doubles event.