India’s women’s badminton team had to be content with a second straight bronze medal after being crushed by China 3-0 in the semifinals of the Uber Cup here on Friday.
India, which lost to Japan in the 2014 edition in the semifinals, failed to show some resistance against the invincible Chinese, who wrapped up the tie in just three matches.
India’s hopes fizzled out as Saina Nehwal failed to win her match against reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui.
World No. 3 Xuerui’s 21-15, 12-21, 21-17 triumph in an hour and four minutes over Saina decimated Indian dreams at the Kunshan Sports Centre.
It was the 25-year-old Xuerui’s 12th win in 14 encounters against the 2015 World Championship silver medallist, who has now lost eight consecutive games against the Chinese.
In the next contest, double World Championship bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu lost to world No. 6 Wang Shixian 13-21, 21-23 in 50 minutes as China took a 2-0 lead.
Former world No.1 Shixian now holds a 6-4 lead in head-to-head record against Sindhu. World No. 4 doubles pair of Qing Tian and Yunlei Zhao took just 25 minutes to brush aside the Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and N. Sikki Reddy 21-6, 21-6. This win sealed China’s spot in the Uber Cup final for the 17th consecutive time.
In the Thomas Cup semifinal, Indonesia beat South Korea 3-1.
