India crowned Badminton Asia Team champions for 1st time as PV Sindhu, Anmol Kharb shine vs Thailand in final
India women’s badminton team scripted history on Sunday in Selangor Malaysia as they won the Badminton Asia Team Championships crown, beating Thailand 3-2 in a hard-fought final.
This is the first time India have won the prestigious continental team championship title in the history of the sport.
PV Sindhu, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly and teenage sensational Anmol Kharb won their respective matches as India won the final 3-2 in Shah Alam on Sunday. In a hard-fought final that ebbed and flowed, India went 2-0 up before Thailand made it 2-2 and forced a decider. However, teenager Anmol shone in the deciding match, once again as she sealed the deal and the historic title for India.
Two years after India won the prestigious Thomas Cup, the women’s team had their moment of glory as India were terrific in the continental tournament, beating the likes of China, Hong Kong, Japan, and eventually Thailand in the final.
It was a terrific final that lived up to the billing as India as PV Sindhu, playing her first tournament on her return from an injury layoff, defeated Supaninda Katethong 21-12, 21-12 in just 39 minutes to give India 1-0 lead.
India went 2-0 when Gayatri Gopichand and Jolly Treesa defeated Jongkolpham Kititharakul and Rawwinda Prajongjal in a hard-fought three-game battle. Gayatri and Jolly kept their nerves and fought back from 6-11 down in the final game to beat the Thailand pair 21-16, 18-21, 21-16 in the first doubles match of the 5-match tie.
However, Ashmita Chaliha, who had beaten former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the semi-final against Japan, lost to Busanan Ongbamrungphan 11-21, 14-21.
India also lost the second doubles match as the back-up pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra lost in straight games to Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard.
ANMOL DOES IT AGAIN!
However, 16-year-old Anmol Kharb, ranked 472 in the world, once again thrived in the deciding match. The Saina Nehwal fan showed nerves of steel on the biggest stage as she defeated World No. 45 Pornpicha Choeikeewong in straight games to give India the decisive win.
Anmol Kharb showed no signs of nerves as the 16-year-old showcased maturity beyond her years against an opponent, who is ranked 417 spots higher than her.
The reigning Indian national champion got the job done in straight games beating Pornpicha 21-14, 21-9 in just 43 minutes.
The Indian team carried Anmol on the shoulder after the big win as the players rushed on the court to celebrate the landmark win.
Anmol was the hero of India’s campaign in Selangor as she won three crucial deciders in the tournament.
She defeated World No. 149 Wu in the deciding singles match against China that helped India seal the top spot in the group stage.
She then defeated World No. 28 Natsuki of Japan in the deciding singles match in the semi-final before turning the heat on in the big final against Pornpicha.