Aichi-Nagoya, 27 September (H.S.): India endured a disappointing day in badminton at the Asian Games being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday. Star shuttler PV Sindhu suffered a hard-fought defeat in the women’s singles, while young player Unnati Hooda also bowed out in the quarter-finals of the women’s singles. India also suffered defeats in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events.

In the women’s singles quarter-final, India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu lost to China’s Chen Yufei 21-11, 18-21, 10-21 in a closely contested encounter. Sindhu made an impressive start, comfortably taking the opening game 21-11.

However, Chen Yufei mounted a strong comeback in the second game. The two players engaged in a fiercely contested battle, but the Chinese shuttler held her nerve to win the game 21-18 and level the contest. In the deciding game, Chen established an early lead and maintained control throughout, winning 21-10 to secure her place in the semi-finals.

At this edition of the Asian Games, Sindhu had defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-Chian 21-19, 21-14 in the Round of 32. She then overcame Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki 21-9, 21-13 in the Round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals. Sindhu has won two medals at the Asian Games so far, but her hopes of securing a third medal came to an end in the quarter-finals this time.

Unnati gives Yamaguchi a tough challenge

In another women’s singles quarter-final, 19-year-old Unnati Hooda went down 16-21, 21-14, 17-21 to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. Unnati gave the highly ranked Japanese shuttler a strong challenge, but Yamaguchi prevailed in the deciding game.

Earlier, Unnati had defeated Malaysia’s Lim Ching Wong 21-14, 20-22, 21-19 in the Round of 32. She subsequently defeated Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung? to advance to the quarter-finals.

India also suffer defeats in women’s and mixed doubles

Earlier, India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were defeated 21-18, 21-9 by Malaysia’s Thinaah Muralitharan and Pearly Tan in the women’s doubles quarter-final.

In the mixed doubles quarter-final, Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila suffered a 14-21, 21-18, 18-21 defeat against China’s Yan Zhi Feng and Huang Dongping.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar