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First time in 11 years, India in Thomas Cup quarters
Source: PTI
October 13, 2021

India's men's will take on traditional powerhouse China in their last group match on Wednesday.

India's women trounced by Thailand

IMAGE: B Sai Praneeth thrashed Tahiti's Louis Beaubois in the just 23 minutes in the opening singles of the Thomas Cup Group C match. Photograph: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

India’s men’s team proved too strong for Tahiti, winning 5-0, to enter the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup badminton for the first time since 2010, but the women's team suffered a crushing 0-5 defeat to Thailand in its last Group B match, in Aarhus, Denmark, on Wednesday.

It was the first defeat for the Indian women after beating Spain (3-2) and Scotland (4-1).

The team has already made it to the quarter-finals.

The men's team, on Tuesday, registered its second straight 5-0 win in Group C, having beaten the Netherlands by an identical margin on Sunday.

The last time the Indian men entered the quarter-finals of the tournament, it lost to Indonesia.

In the Uber Cup, the women's team wrapped up its Group B engagements with a drubbing at the hands of Thailand.

Malvika Bansod lost the opening women's singles 15-21, 11-21 to Pornpawee Chochowong.

India needed to win the doubles match but Ashwini Ponappa and Sikki N Reddy went down 16-21, 12-21 to Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai.

For India to stay alive, it was imperative for Aditi Bhatt to win the next singles.

She fought her heart out but lost 16-21, 21-18 15-21 to Busanan Ongbamrungphan in 59 minutes.

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand then lost 17-21, 16-21 to Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

Tasnim Mir took the court with an aim to avoid a whitewash but lost 19-21, 15-21 to Supaninda Katethong.

Tasnim had a good chance to win the first game as she led 17-14, but lost points in a jiffy and let slip the advantage.

Meanwhile, Tuesday's win over Tahiti ensured that India’s men's team will finish in the top-two of the four-team Group C.

India will take on traditional powerhouse China in their last group match on Thursday.

B Sai Praneeth began the proceedings with a 21-5, 21-6 win over Louis Beaubois in just 23 minutes.

Sameer Verma made it 2-0 with an easy 21-12, 21-12 victory over Remi Rossi in 41 minutes.

Kiran George sealed the tie with a 21-4, 21-2 thrashing of Elias Maublanc in the third men's singles that got over in only 15 minutes.

In the inconsequential doubles matches, the pair of Krishna Prasad and Vishnu Vardhan scored a 21-8, 21-7 win before Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat Maublanc and Heiva Yvonet 21-5, 21-3.

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