India failed to make the quarterfinals of the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championship after suffering a 1-4 thrashing at the hands of Indonesia in its second group match in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Parupalli Kashyap was the lone Indian who could offer some consolation by registering a 21-18, 21-14 victory over Rumbaka Dionysius Hayom in the men’s singles category, even as P.V. Sindhu along with other Indians were outclassed by the Indonesians at the Putra Stadium.
India had already lost two ties before World No. 11 Kashyap managed to prevail over a lower ranked opponent in a 44-minute battle.
The Group ‘A’ match began with the men’s doubles contest, which Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Chopra lost in straight games 13-21, 10-21 to the pair of Angga Pratama and Rian Agung Saputra in just 24 minutes.
In the second tie, World No. 13 Sindhu failed to live up to the expectations as she went down tamely to Fanetri Lindaweni, ranked 15th, 15-21, 10-21 in women’s singles.
Without Saina Nehwal, there was a lot of pressure on the 17-year-old Sindhu, who on Sunday gave a tough fight to world No. 3 Wang Yihan.
But today she failed to show the same spirit and surrendered without a fight in a 36-minute contest.
The women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Pradnya Gadre also lost 19-21, 20-22 to Greysia Polii and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari in 37 minutes.
In the mixed doubles category, the combo of Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan were outplayed by Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir 13-21, 14-21 in 29 minutes.
Saina did not take part in the tournament as she is nursing a hairline fracture in her toe, while doubles player Jwala Gutta pulled out for not finding a suitable partner.
India had lost 0-5 to China in the opening Group ‘A’ match.
