New Delhi: The Indian women's badminton team secured a historic medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships with a commanding 3-0 victory over Hong Kong in the quarter-finals held on Friday in Shah Alam, Malaysia. The team's journey to the quarter-finals was marked by a stunning victory over China in the group stage, propelling them to their maiden medal in the tournament.
Leading the charge was PV Sindhu, who marked her return to the court after a four-month injury layoff with a hard-fought win over Lo Sin Yan Happy, securing a 21-7, 16-21, 21-12 victory. This was followed by a stellar performance from the doubles pair of Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto, who defeated the world no. 18 duo of Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam with a score of 21-10, 21-14 in just 35 minutes.
Ashmita Chaliha continued the team's winning streak by dominating her opponent Yeung Sum Yee with a convincing 21-12, 21-13 victory, ensuring India's place in the semi-finals and guaranteeing them at least a bronze medal.
Former national coach Vimal Kumar expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, noting the challenges posed by the drift in the court. Despite the initial difficulty in controlling the shuttle due to the drift, Kumar praised Sindhu and the team for their resilience and success on the court. India's next challenge will be against the winner of the quarter-final match between Japan and China.
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