Teen shuttler Anmol once again wins deciding rubber as women beat Thailand for maiden Asian Team Championships crown
HYDERABAD: Teen shuttler Anmol Kharb delivered the killer punch once again as Indian women scaled another peak by emerging triumphant at the Badminton Asia Team Championships with a 3-2 victory in the final against Thailand in Shah Alam, Malaysia, on Sunday.
With score tied at 2-2, it was left to Anmol. And for the third time this week, the 17-year-old from Faridabad clinched the decider for India. Playing her first international tournament, the world No. 472 displayed nerves of steel and looked like a seasoned campaigner as she took on world No. 45 Pornpicha Choeikeewong. The contest was over in 43 minutes as Anmol beat her rival 21-14, 21-9 victory. Earlier, she had done same against China and Japan.
PV Sindhu gave a winning start to her team. Despite moving slowly on the court, Sindhu was never in trouble against Supanida Katethong and won in straight games 21-12, 21-12.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand clinched a crucial victory for India. Up against world No. 10 pair of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, the world No. 23 Indians worked hard in the one hour 13-minute contest to win 21-16, 18-21, 21-16. The victory was quite significant as this was the only top-10 pair Thailand had fielded in the tournament.
Thailand pulled one back when Busanan Ongbamrungphan registered a straight game victory against Ashmita Chaliha 21-11, 21-14. As Tanish Crasto was injured India fielded a new pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra. The young girls proved no match for the world No. 13 team of Benyappa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard 11-21, 9-21.
At 2-2, Anmol stepped in and seized the moment for India.
Chief coach Pullela Gopichand described the victory as one of the happiest moment of his life. "It's a fantastic victory, one of the very happiest moments of my life. The manner in which the entire team came together and triumphed speaks volumes of their calibre. Not many countries in the world could achieve this honour. Treesa-Gayatri pulled off the victory against a very tough team. Sindhu was good today. It is good that we beat top teams as not many teams in the world can talk of beating China and Japan," Gopichand said, adding that Anmol was special.
China trounced Malaysia 3-0 to win the men's final.
