GUWAHATI: The Indian men's badminton team showcased a dominant performance against England, securing a 5-0 victory, in the BWF Thomas Cup Group C clash, solidifying their spot in the quarterfinals.
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The journey towards victory commenced with world no. 9 HS Prannoy setting the tone with a commanding performance, securing a straight-game win over England's Harry Huang, with a score line of 21-15, 21-15.
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In the encounter, the Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced stiff competition from the English duo of Ben Lane and Sean Vendy.
However, leveraging their experience and skill, the Indian pair emerged victorious with a hard-fought triumph of 21-17, 19-21, 21-15, after an intense battle lasting an hour and five minutes.
With strategic rotation, the Indian team opted to rest Lakshya Sen for the match, and Kidambi Srikanth capitalized on the opportunity, clinching a decisive victory over Nadeem Dalvi with scores of 21-16, 21-11, thereby sealing India's quarterfinal berth.
Reflecting on the team's performance, Prannoy expressed satisfaction with his winning start and talked about the importance of clinical execution in such high-stakes encounters.
Meanwhile, the doubles combination of Satwiksairaj and Shetty acknowledged the challenges posed by the unfamiliar left-right combination of opponents.
Despite the adversity, they displayed resilience and determination, adapting to the conditions and emerging victorious.
The Indian contingent further strengthened their position with the second doubles combination of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila, along with Kiran George in the third singles, securing comfortable victories, completing the comprehensive 5-0 scoreline against England.
The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown as India prepares to face Indonesia, aiming to secure the top spot in Group C and continue their pursuit of glory in the prestigious tournament.
The Indian women's team also advanced to the quarterfinals with two successive victories and is poised for a compelling encounter against China in their final group A clash, promising an exciting spectacle for badminton enthusiasts worldwide.
The Uber Cup, also known as the World Women's Team Championships, is a major international badminton competition for women's national teams.
It started in 1956–1957 and initially occurred every three years, but since 1984 it's been held every two years, alongside the Thomas Cup for men's teams.
The upcoming 2024 event will mark the 33rd Thomas Cup and the 30th Uber Cup, organized by the Badminton World Federation.
