India's individual badminton campaign at the Asian Games concluded on Sunday without a podium finish, as the nation's top shuttlers were eliminated during a challenging day of quarterfinal action. Despite spirited performances from veterans and rising stars alike, the Indian contingent failed to progress to the semifinals, marking a difficult end to their individual tournament aspirations.
The exit of two-time Olympic medallist
Sindhu and Hooda Fall in Quarterfinal Battles
PV Sindhu, who had been forced to navigate a grueling schedule of three matches in less than 24 hours, faced Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei. Sindhu initially looked sharp, dictating play to secure the opening game 21-11. However, the physical toll of the condensed schedule became evident as the match progressed. Chen fought back to claim the second game 21-18 and dominated the decider, winning 21-10 to eliminate the Indian star.
In a parallel quarterfinal, teenager Unnati Hooda pushed three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi to the limit. After dropping the first game 16-21, the young Indian responded with impressive tactical play to take the second 21-14. The final game remained tightly contested until the closing stages, where Yamaguchi’s experience proved decisive, allowing the Japanese world No. 3 to close out the match 21-17.
Doubles Pairs Exit Amidst Tough Competition
The doubles categories also saw Indian hopes dashed against high-ranked opposition. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, fresh off their recent World Championships bronze medal success, were defeated 18-21, 9-21 by the Malaysian duo of Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan. Meanwhile, the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto provided a significant test for world No. 1 Chinese pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dongping. Despite a valiant effort that saw them push the top seeds to three games, Kapila and Crasto ultimately fell 14-21, 21-18, 18-21.
Reflecting on the performance, Tanisha Crasto noted the team's pride in their fighting spirit despite the disappointing result. She highlighted that the experience provided valuable lessons and demonstrated the progress made against world-class opponents. The scheduling, which required several players to compete in multiple matches within a single day on Saturday, added an extra layer of difficulty to the campaign. With the individual events now concluded, the Indian squad looks toward a period of recovery and analysis following their exit from the tournament.
