Minus their biggest names who had featured in India’s first Badminton Asia Team Championships victory, their young women’s squad stared at an uphill battle at the Uber Cup.
The team – with juniors and untested players – had China, Canada and Singapore to reckon with, while missing their singles icon Pusarla V Sindhu and doubles pairs Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto and Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela.
In the absence of Pusarlau, it was world No.53 Ashmita Chaliha’s turn to lead from the front against Canada, and she did so admirably, holding off Michelle Li by the tightest of margins, 26-24 24-22. The lefthanded Chaliha said she was trying to inspire the others into giving their best, no matter the odds.
“I was looking forward to the Uber Cup as Sindhu isn’t playing, and I’m playing first singles. If we had a good start we could pull off the tie. It was a great match with Michelle, she is a very good player. Her deception and attack were very good, so I was focusing on defence today.
“The main players weren’t playing, and the feeling was that the Uber Cup team wasn’t strong, with only junior players. But it was a great opportunity for all the juniors as well, because they would get a lot of experience from this, and I told my teammates to play their best, that we had to give everything every day we were on court.”
Priya Konjengbam/Shruti Mishra made it 2-0 beating Catherine Choi/Jeslyn Chow, before world No.83 Isharani Baruah, playing her first international team match, dismissed No.44 Wen Yu Zhang 21-13 21-12 in 29 minutes.
“It’s really great that I won my singles,” said Baruah. “I was confident because Ashmita won the first and then the first doubles pair was comfortable. I was confident of winning the point for my team. This is my first Uber Cup and I’m excited to play the top players.”
Canada did pull one back in the second doubles, but India’s latest find Anmol Kharb put the finishing touches on the 4-1 score with a 21-15 21-11 result over Eliana Zhang.
“I played well at the Badminton Asia Team Championships and expectations from me are high,” said Kharb. “But over there the courts were slow and favourable to me, but here there’s a drift so it was difficult for me to play. The next match will be easier because I’m now used to it.
“I was very happy although our main players weren’t here because I’ll be playing senior players, and meeting my favourite players like Tai Tzu Ying, who’s my idol. I’m happy I got the chance.”