Ayush Shetty Secures Hard-Fought Victory Against Japanese Veteran Kenta Nishimoto
In a gripping encounter at the Asian Team Championships in Qingdao, China, young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty showcased his rising talent by defeating the experienced Kenta Nishimoto in a three-set battle. The match, which lasted an intense 74 minutes, saw Shetty claim victory with scores of 21-18, 15-21, 21-11. This win marks a significant start to Shetty's team campaign, especially after his recent entry into the world's Top 25 rankings earlier this week.
Shetty's Comeback and Dominant Decider
Playing the first singles in the men's group tie, Ayush Shetty faced a tough challenge from Nishimoto, who has historically been a formidable opponent for Indian players. In the opening set, Shetty found himself trailing at 11-15 and 16-18 but displayed remarkable resilience by winning five consecutive points to snatch the set 21-18. Although he faltered in the second set, losing 15-21, Shetty bounced back emphatically in the decider, dominating with a commanding 21-11 win to seal the match.
Satwik-Chirag Lead in Doubles as Men's Team Progresses
Meanwhile, in the ongoing men's tie, the star Indian doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are currently engaged in a closely contested match against Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi. At the time of reporting, the Indian duo held a narrow lead of 21-18. The men's team lineup also includes HS Prannoy and Tharun Mannepa, who are scheduled to play the subsequent singles matches against Yushi Tanaka and Koki Watanabe, respectively.
India Women's Team Falls to Thailand but Advances to Quarterfinals Against China
In the women's competition, India faced a 2-3 defeat against Thailand in a hard-fought tie. Despite the loss, the Indian team has qualified for the quarterfinals, where they are set to face China. This matchup presents a fine opportunity for the Indian players to test their skills against the second string of the top-ranked badminton nation. China, which did not play on Thursday, secured a 4-1 victory over Malaysia in their previous match.
Tanvi Sharma and Treesa-Gayatri Shine in Individual Wins
The women's tie saw some standout performances from Indian players. Tanvi Sharma gave India an early lead by defeating Busanan Ongbamrungphan in a three-set thriller with scores of 21-14, 17-21, 21-18. The 17-year-old Indian, ranked 42nd in the world, displayed grit against the 29-year-old Thai opponent ranked 16th, especially in a tense decider where she closed out the match effectively.
Additionally, the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand contributed to India's tally with a 21-14, 20-22, 21-11 victory over Nattamon Laisuan and Teedapron Kleebyeesun. Despite a stutter in the second set where they lost momentum from 15-12 up to 17-19 down, the duo recovered strongly to wrap up the match in the decider.
Challenges in Other Matches Lead to Overall Defeat
However, India faced setbacks in the remaining matches. Rakshitha Ramraj lost 21-19, 21-17 to Pitchamon Optaniputh, who is in red-hot form on the circuit. The doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra put up a spirited fight in the first set, coming back from 13-18 to win 21-19, but were outplayed thereafter. Malvika Bansod, tasked with defeating Pornpicha Choeeikiwong, went down 21-18, 21-14 in a match where she was expected to win given her higher ranking of 47 against her opponent's 69. Bansod is still recovering from a severe knee injury sustained last season, which has affected her performance.
Overall, while the women's team showed flashes of brilliance, Thailand's depth proved decisive in securing the 3-2 victory. The focus now shifts to the quarterfinal clash against China, where India will aim to leverage this experience and put up a strong challenge.
