Asia Mixed Team Championships Badminton: India confirms historic medal after defeating Hong Kong

The Indian badminton team made it to the semi-finals of the Asia Mixed Team Championships for the first time in a historic performance on Friday. They defeated Hong Kong in the quarter-final match and with this their bronze medal was also confirmed.

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The Indian team was trailing 0-2 at one point but after that, they made a strong comeback. The doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila-Chirag Shetty and PV Sindhu brought the match to par by winning their respective matches and finally won the match.

The first match of the Asia Mixed Team Championships was between the mixed doubles team of the two countries. The pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto put up a lot of effort but lost 24-26, 17-21 to Hong Kong's  Lee Chun Hei Reginald and NG Tsz Yau. At the same time, world No. 11 and Commonwealth Champion Lakshya Sen too could not win. He lost 22-20, 19-21, 18-21 in a thrilling match that lasted three games. After that, India was in trouble as it had to win all the remaining three matches.

The pair of Dhruv Kapila and Chirag Shetty gave India its first win in the Asia Mixed Team Championships. They defeated the opposing pair of Tang Chun Man and Yeung Shing Choi by 20-22, 21-16, 21-11. India's Olympic medalist PV Sindhu also did not disappoint. She defeated Saloni Mehta by 16-21,21-7,21-9.

After Sindhu's victory, the score became equal to 2-2. In the end, everything depended on the women's doubles match. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Ng Tsz Yau and Ng Wing Yung by 21-13,21-12. Their victory not only took India to the semi-finals but also ensured the bronze medal at the Asia Mixed Team Championships.

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This is the first time that India has progressed to the semi-finals of the Asia Mixed Team Championships. In 2019, India was knocked out in the group stages while they were beaten 3-2 by Thailand in the quarter-finals of the inaugural edition in 2017. With the last-four spot secured, India also qualified directly for the Sudirman Cup 2023. The tournament will start later this year in China.