India’s campaign in the 2019 BWF Sudirman Cup was cut short after the hosts China trounced them 5-0 in the final group encounter. India previously lost to Malaysia and needed a victory at any cost to advance to the knockout stages of the competition.
China asserted their dominance from the word-go as their mixed doubles pair of Wang Yilu and Huang Dongping showed no mercy on the Indian duo of Pranav Chopra and N. Sikki Reddy, thrashing them 21-5, 21-11.
Sameer Verma, who earlier lost his men’s singles encouner to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia in a shocker, produced a better display against reigning Olympic champion Chen Long. However, his effort fell short as he lost the encounter 21-17, 22-20.
The young and dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were up against China’s Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong in the men’s doubles game next. They took the first set 21-18 but failed to keep their nerves in the next two as they lost the tie 18-21, 21-15, 21-17.
Already 3-0 behind in the five-match series, an injured Saina Nehwal took the court in the women’s singles match. Her inflammation in the ankle and wrist meant she couldn’t stretch much and her opponent Chen Yufei took full advantage of it to clinch the tie 21-12, 21-17.
Eyeing for a consolation win, Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy eyed an elusive victory over the World No. 4 pair of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan. However, they fell short and succumbed 21-12, 21-15.