Asia Badminton Team Championships: PV Sindhu leads India to hard-fought win in Saina Nehwal's absence

Alor Setar: Olympic silver-medallist PV Sindhu led the women’s team to a thrilling 3-2 win over Hong Kong as India made a positive start in the Asia Badminton Team Championship in Alor Setar on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_4338267” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of PV Sindhu. AFP[/caption] With London Olympics bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal pulling out of the tournament citing a groin injury, Sindhu proved her mettle as she first claimed the singles match and then combined with N Sikki Reddy to win the second doubles game. Sindhu recovered quickly from her heart-breaking loss at the final of the India Open last Sunday, and won 21-12 21-18 over Hong Kong’s Yip Pui Yin in the first singles. Ashwini Ponnappa and Prajakta Sawant then played their heart out before losing 22-20 20-22 10-21 to Ng Wing Yung and Yeung Nga Ting in a 52-minute first women’s doubles clash. Young Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli took the court against Cheung Ying Mei but her gallant fight ended with a 19 -21 21-18 20-22 loss in the second singles as India trailed 1 -2 after three of the five-match tie. Sindhu then combined with Sikki and notched up a 21-15 15-21 21-14 win over Ng Tsz Yau and Yuen Sin Ying to equalise. It eventually came down to the third singles and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde recovered from a game down to outwit Yeung Sum Yee 16-21 21-16 21-13 to earn India the crucial win. The Asia Team Championship is also a qualifier for the Uber Cup final with the semi-finalists earning the right to play in Bangkok in May On Thursday, India will take on a formidable Japan, who boast of the World No 2 Akane Yamaguchi and reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara. Saina, who had recovered from an ankle injury to reach the final of Indonesia Masters last month, is likely to be missed.