Heartbreak for India in women's badminton at the Asian Games; the team lost 1-3 to Japan in the quarter-finals, extending the wait for a medal to 16 years

XtraTime Web Desk

India’s wait for a medal in women’s badminton at the Asian Games has been extended further after the Indian team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Japan in the quarter-finals. The result means India will have to wait at least another four years for a chance to end its medal drought. India’s women’s team last won an Asian Games medal in 2014 in Indonesia, when they shared the bronze medal with Japan.

Facing the highly ranked Japanese side on Tuesday was always going to be a tough challenge for India. Almost every Indian player had to take on an opponent ranked higher than them. However, much of India’s hopes rested on PV Sindhu, who faced Japan’s World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in the opening singles.

Sindhu made a strong start, winning the first game 23-21. But Yamaguchi fought back to take the second game 21-18. In the decider, the Japanese star dominated proceedings as Sindhu struggled to find her rhythm. Yamaguchi won the third game 21-11 to seal the match.

India then suffered another setback in the second singles, with Unnati Hooda going down to her Japanese opponent. With Japan taking a 2-0 lead, India were staring at elimination.

However, the Indian pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand kept the team’s hopes alive. The bronze medallists at the World Championships produced an impressive performance in the doubles, defeating Japan’s World No. 3 pair and reducing the deficit to 2-1.

India needed to win the final singles match to force a decider, but Tanvi Sharma could not get past her Japanese opponent. Japan therefore completed a 3-1 victory and booked their place in the semi-finals.

The defending champions will face South Korea in the last four. South Korea secured their semi-final berth after defeating Malaysia.