India win maiden Badminton Asia Team Championships gold medal

India women’s badminton team’s dream run at the Badminton Asia Team Championships saw a thrilling finale as they beat Thailand 3-2 with 17-year-old Anmol Kharb sealing the decisive singles rubber. India had taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match tie before seeing things level at 2-2.

#BATC2024

Indian women are Badminton Asian Team Champions as Anmol Kharb win another decider against a higher-ranked opponent.

❤️ Joy on her face as she takes centerstage amid her teammates, one of whom is a world champion, double Olympic medallist Sindhu cheering her on! pic.twitter.com/sxhlSXFt90

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 18, 2024

This is the first time India have won a gold medal in the women’s event at the Badminton Asia Team Championships. Previously, the men’s team had won bronze medals in 2016 and 2020 editions.

The young sprightly group of Indian women’s team, led by seasoned PV Sindhu, defied all expectations to come up trumps against two-time bronze medallists Thailand.

It is India’s first major title in a team event and provides a big boost ahead of the Uber Cup, which is set to be held in Chengdu, China from 28 April to 5 May.

“It is a great moment for Indian badminton. I give a lot of credit to these youngsters. They displayed great spirit, they were supporting each other and the atmosphere was just like it was when India won the Thomas Cup. So this is a special moment for India,” former India coach Vimal Kumar told news agency PTI.

PV Sindhu, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Kharb won their respective matches as India registered a remarkable win. Thailand were without their top two singles players – world No. 13 Ratchanok Intanon and Pornpawee Chochuwong, who is ranked 16th in the world. Yet they had in their midst two higher ranked players than the Indian side.

Former world champion Sindhu, on the comeback trail after four-month injury absence, beat Supanida Katethong 21-12, 21-12. The Olympic silver medallist rode on her power and placement to outclass world number 17 Katethong and hand India a 1-0 lead.

In the next match, Jolly and Gopichand won 21-16, 18-21, 21-16 in an edge of the seat contest. The World No. 23 pairing dished out another gritty performance to shock world number 10 pair of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Pra Jongjai.

Thailand came back into the final with wins for Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Benyapa and Nuntakarn Aimsaard. They beat Ashmita Chaliha 21-11, 21-14 and Priya Konjengbam/Shruti Mishra 21-11, 21-9 respectively.

Playing the second singles against world ranked 18 Busanan Ongbamrungphan, expectations were high from Ashmita Chaliha after her stunning win against former world champion Nozomi Okuhara on Saturday.

The Indian, who had defeated Busanan during the Singapore Open in 2022, stayed in the match till 14-14 in the second game but a string of unforced errors thereafter cost Ashmita dearly as she went down in straight games.