The Indian women’s team smoothly sailed into the quarter-finals of the Uber Cup following a commanding 4-1 victory over Singapore during their second Group A encounter on Sunday. This triumph was fueled by outstanding performances from Isharani Baruah and Anmol Kharab.
Having already clinched a 4-1 win against Canada in their opening match, the Asian champions continued their stellar form in the subsequent fixture. Despite a setback in the first match with Ashmita Chaliha’s loss, the Indian team rallied back to secure victories in all the remaining matches.
This successful week marked a noteworthy achievement for a youthful and relatively inexperienced Indian squad, particularly as they competed without some of their key players. Demonstrating remarkable skill and enthusiasm on the grand stage, they clinched victories in both initial matches.
In the parallel Group A match, China dominated Canada with a 3-0 triumph, ensuring India and their Asian counterparts a passage to the quarter-finals.
With two consecutive wins, India currently holds the second position in Group A, trailing behind China. The two teams are set to clash on Tuesday in the final group fixture to determine the group topper.
Chaliha, seeded 53rd, caused a stir by defeating Canada’s Michelle Lee on Saturday, but stumbled against the 18th-ranked Yeo Jia Min, losing 15-21, 18-21.
The national champion, Priya Konzengbaum, and the 67th seed, Shruti Mishra, orchestrated India’s comeback with a convincing 21-15, 21-16 triumph over Xiao En Heng and Jin Yu Jia in the first women’s doubles.
Isharani further extended India’s lead by outplaying Insirah Khan with a score of 21-13, 21-16 in the second singles. The seeded duo of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thacker overwhelmed Yi Ting, Elsa Lai, and John Mitchell with a dominating score of 21-8, 21-11, ensuring India a comfortable 3-1 lead.
The emerging talent, Anmol, sealed India’s victory with a commanding performance, defeating Lee Jin Megan 21-15, 21-13 in the third singles. Shruti emphasized that despite the setback in the initial match, the Indian team did not succumb to pressure. “It was a crucial match because a win against Singapore would secure our spot in the quarter-finals,” she commented. “Though Ashmita faced a setback, she gave her all. After her match, it was our responsibility to step up. We lacked confidence in the first match, but today our spirits were high.”
India’s previous appearances in the Uber Cup semi-finals were in 1957, 2014, and 2016. Meanwhile, the defending champions, the Indian men’s team, will confront England in their second Group C match on Monday, following their 4-1 victory over Thailand in the opening encounter.
