Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024: India Women And Men's Teams Open Campaign With Wins

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Asian champions India kicked off their 2024 Uber Cup campaign with a dominating 4-1 win over Canada in the Group A encounter at the Chengdu High-tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium in Chengdu, China on Saturday (April 27).

In the absence of top singles and doubles players like PV Sindhu and Tanisha Crasto-Ashwini Ponnappa pair, young contingent lead by Ashmita Chaliha had the responsibility of giving India a winning start and the left-handed shuttler showed her mettle.

The world no 53 upset Canada's Michelle Li, ranked 28 places above her, 26-24, 24-22 in a 42-minute clash that saw the Indian save a total of six game points across the two games.

The doubles combination of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra then doubled India's lead with a 21-12, 21-10 win over Catherine Choi and Jeslyn Chow.

Isharani Baruah then put the result beyond doubt as she packed off Wen Yu Zhang 21-13, 21-12 in just 29 minutes to give India an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Canada finally scored their first point when Jackie Dent and Crystal Lai defeated Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker 21-19, 21-15 in the second doubles rubber of the group stage opener.

India's star in the successful Asian Team Championship campaign, 17-year-old Anmol Kharab then wrapped up the tie with a 21-15, 21-11 win over Eliana Zhang. The Indian women's team will next face Singapore on Sunday (April 28) in the second group stage clash in Thomas & Uber Cup 2024.

Thomas Cup 2024: India beat Thailand

The men's team also kicked off their Thomas Cup title defence against Thailand in Group C with a 4-1 win later in the day. But had a bad opening as HS Prannoy went down fighting in straight games to Kunlavut Vitidsarn by a scoreline of 20-22, 14-21.

However, the top doubles pair of the country, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty registered a hard-fought win in the men's doubles match against Peeratchai Sukphun & Pakkapon Teeraratsakul to level the score at 1-1 in the tie.

Satwik-Chirag pair were made to fight in the opening stanza, and the Indian pair withstood the challenge to seal the game 21-19, but the Thai pair fought back to force the decider by winning the second game 21-19.

In the final game, the Indian duo eased past the Thai pair 21-12 to seal the match in an hour and five minutes to bring India back into the contest.

Lakshya Sen also carried the winning momentum and registered yet another hard-fought win to give India a 2-1 lead. Sen defeated Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in a singles contest by a scoreline of 21-12, 19-21, 21-16 in a hour and 3 minutes.

Dhruv Kapila-MR Arjun pair also registered straight games win 21-19, 21-15 over Tanadon Punpanich and Wachirawit Sothon to seal the match in India's favour at 3-1. Kidambi Srikanth made it 4-1 when he eased past Saran Jamsri 21-9, 21-5.

Source: BAI Media