Chengdu (China), Ishrani Baruah and Anmol Kharb shone as the Indian women's team entered the quarter-finals of the Uber Cup badminton tournament with a lopsided 4-1 win over Singapore in the second Group A match here on Sunday.
Asian champions India, who defeated Canada 4-1 in the opening encounter, produced another good performance as they recovered from the loss of Ashmit Chaliha in the opening match and won the remaining matches comfortably to take the lead.
It proved to be a good weekend for the young and inexperienced Indian team, who were missing the big guns, but displayed their skill and temperament on the big stage to win two out of two encounters.
China defeated Canada 3-0 in another Group A match and the result was enough to seal quarter-final berths for both India and their Asian neighbours.
With two wins, India are now second in Group A behind China.The two teams will meet in their final group match on Tuesday to decide the top spot.
53rd ranked Chaliha, who had defeated Canada's Michelle Lee on Saturday, lost 15-21, 18-21 against world number 18 Yeo Jia Min on Sunday.
67th-ranked national champions Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra led India's comeback with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Xiao En Heng and Jin Yu Jia in the first women's doubles.
Ishrani, ranked 83rd, doubled India's lead with a 21-13, 21-1 win over Insiira Khan in the second singles.
The 64th-ranked pair of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thakar produced a brilliant performance to beat Yi Ting, Elsa Lai and Zane Mitchell 21-8, 21-11 and India took an unassailable 3-1 lead.Rising star Anmol, ranked 258th, won the match by defeating Lee Shin Megan 21-15, 21-13 in the third singles.
Later Shruti said that despite losing the first match, the Indians did not succumb to the pressure.
“It was a very important match, because if we win this match (vs Singapore) we will qualify (for the quarter-finals). So, there was a little pressure but in a good way. Even though Ashmita lost, she gave her best.“Then it was our turn to give our best. We were not very confident during the first match but today we were more confident. "There is a little variation in the side courts but our court was fine," Shruti said.
India has reached the semi-finals of the Uber Cup thrice in 1957, 2014 and 2016.
The defending champion Indian men's team will face England in the second match of Group C on Monday.India had defeated Thailand 4-1 in the first match.
Result: India beat Singapore 4-1 (Ashmita Chaliha lost to Yeo Jia Min 15-21, 18-21; Priya Konzengbam/Shruti Mishra lost to Xiao En Heng/Yu Jia Jin 21-15, 21-16 Isharani Barua def Insira Khan 21-13, 21-16, Simran Singhi/Ritika Thakar vs Lai Yi Ting Elsa & Michelle Zhan 21-8, 21-11, Anmol Kharab vs Lee Shin Yi Mega 21-15, 21 -13.
Asian champions India, who defeated Canada 4-1 in the opening encounter, produced another good performance as they recovered from the loss of Ashmit Chaliha in the opening match and won the remaining matches comfortably to take the lead.
It proved to be a good weekend for the young and inexperienced Indian team, who were missing the big guns, but displayed their skill and temperament on the big stage to win two out of two encounters.
China defeated Canada 3-0 in another Group A match and the result was enough to seal quarter-final berths for both India and their Asian neighbours.
With two wins, India are now second in Group A behind China.The two teams will meet in their final group match on Tuesday to decide the top spot.
53rd ranked Chaliha, who had defeated Canada's Michelle Lee on Saturday, lost 15-21, 18-21 against world number 18 Yeo Jia Min on Sunday.
67th-ranked national champions Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra led India's comeback with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Xiao En Heng and Jin Yu Jia in the first women's doubles.
Ishrani, ranked 83rd, doubled India's lead with a 21-13, 21-1 win over Insiira Khan in the second singles.
The 64th-ranked pair of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thakar produced a brilliant performance to beat Yi Ting, Elsa Lai and Zane Mitchell 21-8, 21-11 and India took an unassailable 3-1 lead.Rising star Anmol, ranked 258th, won the match by defeating Lee Shin Megan 21-15, 21-13 in the third singles.
Later Shruti said that despite losing the first match, the Indians did not succumb to the pressure.
“It was a very important match, because if we win this match (vs Singapore) we will qualify (for the quarter-finals). So, there was a little pressure but in a good way. Even though Ashmita lost, she gave her best.“Then it was our turn to give our best. We were not very confident during the first match but today we were more confident. "There is a little variation in the side courts but our court was fine," Shruti said.
India has reached the semi-finals of the Uber Cup thrice in 1957, 2014 and 2016.
The defending champion Indian men's team will face England in the second match of Group C on Monday.India had defeated Thailand 4-1 in the first match.
Result: India beat Singapore 4-1 (Ashmita Chaliha lost to Yeo Jia Min 15-21, 18-21; Priya Konzengbam/Shruti Mishra lost to Xiao En Heng/Yu Jia Jin 21-15, 21-16 Isharani Barua def Insira Khan 21-13, 21-16, Simran Singhi/Ritika Thakar vs Lai Yi Ting Elsa & Michelle Zhan 21-8, 21-11, Anmol Kharab vs Lee Shin Yi Mega 21-15, 21 -13.
