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India defeated Macau 5-0 in their opening group match of Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship in Qingdao, China.
Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships: India’s Lakshya Sen (X//BAI)
India began their Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships campaign with a commanding 5-0 win over Macau in China’s Qingdao on Wednesday.
Lakshya Sen, Malvika Bansod and the pairs of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran- Aadya Variyath, M.R. Arjun-Chirag Shetty and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand won their respective matches.
The mixed doubles pair of Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath, the newly-crowned National Games gold medallists, gave India a rousing start, recording a 21-10, 21-9 win against Iok Chong Leong and Weng Chi Ng in the opening match.
In men’s singles, 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen then outwitted Pang Fong Pui 21-16, 21-12, making it 2-0.
Malvika Bansod, the 2024 Hylo Open finalist, then sealed the tie for India with a dominant 21-15, 21-9 win over Hao Wai Chan in women’s singles.
Chirag Shetty paired up with MR Arjun and prevailed 21-15, 21-19 over Chin Pon Pui and Kok Wen Vong in men’s doubles.
The world number 9 women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand completed the demolition with a 21-10, 21-5 thrashing of NG Weng Chi and Pui Chi Wa in the final match.
India are now assured of a quarterfinal berth. They will next face Korea in their second and final group tie on Thursday, which will decide the group winner.
India 5-0 Macau
- Mixed Doubles – Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath defeated Leong Iok Chong and Weng Chi NG 21-10, 21-9
- Men’s Singles – Lakshya Sen defeated Pang Fong Pui 21-16, 21-12
- Women’s Singles – Malvika Bansod defeated Hao Wai Chan 21-15, 21-9
- Men’s Doubles – M.R. Arjun and Chirag Shetty defeated Pui Chi Chon and Vong Kok Weng 21-15, 21-9
- Women’s Doubles – Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Weng Chi NG and Pui Chi Wa 21-10, 21-5
Advancing further from the quarter-finals for India will require exceptional performances from the squad.
While India have never won the gold at the Asia Mixed Team Championships, they did secure mixed team gold and silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022.
India have had notable success in recent team events, including their first-ever Thomas Cup gold in 2022, the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships silver in Malaysia, and a historic men’s silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
(With inputs from Agencies)
