India’s run at the Badminton Asia Team Championships came to a halt in the quarterfinals after a 0–3 defeat to a formidable Chinese side. Up against one of the tournament favourites, the Indian women fought hard but were unable to breach China’s depth and consistency in Qingdao.
Having navigated the group stages with competitive performances, India entered the knockout phase aware of the scale of the challenge. China, boasting multiple top-20 players and one of the strongest doubles combinations in the world, executed with precision to seal the tie in straight matches.
Tanvi Faces World No. 10 Test
The tie began with a daunting task for 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma, ranked World No. 42, who was drawn against Gao Fangjie, the World No. 10. Tanvi has been one of India’s breakout performers this season, but the gulf in experience and ranking showed from the outset. Gao controlled the rallies with sharp angles and superior court coverage, denying Tanvi the opportunity to settle into extended exchanges. The Chinese shuttler dictated pace and length, forcing errors and keeping Tanvi on the defensive throughout.
The scoreboard reflected the dominance. Tanvi went down 9-21, 9-21 in a one-sided contest. Despite the loss, the youngster’s exposure against a top-10 opponent will be invaluable as she continues her development at the senior level.
Doubles Pair Push China Hard
India’s best opportunity to level the tie came in the women’s doubles, where Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, ranked World No. 21, faced the formidable Chinese combination of Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian, ranked World No. 4.
The opening game was a high-quality contest, with both pairs engaging in fast exchanges at the net and sharp counter-attacks from the midcourt. Treesa and Gayatri matched the Chinese pair stroke for stroke, using quick interceptions and steep smashes to stay in contention. The first game went down to the wire. India had opportunities but could not convert at the crucial moments, eventually losing 22-24. That narrow margin proved pivotal.
In the second game, the Chinese duo tightened their defensive structure and capitalised on marginal lapses from the Indian pair. Though Treesa and Gayatri stayed competitive, Jia and Zhang managed the closing stages more effectively to take it 21-18. The straight-games defeat ended India’s hopes of a comeback. Yet the closeness of the first game underlined how far the Indian women’s doubles pair has progressed on the continental stage.
Rakshitha Battles in Third Rubber
With the tie already decided, Rakshitha Ramraj took to court for the third singles against Xu Wenjing. On paper, the rankings suggested a more even contest Rakshitha at World No. 52 against Xu at World No. 127. Rakshitha started strongly, controlling the tempo and mixing attack with patience to claim the first game 21-14. Her movement was sharp, and she found success targeting the sidelines and midcourt gaps.
However, Xu responded with greater aggression in the second game. The Chinese player increased the pace of rallies and forced Rakshitha into deeper defensive positions. The momentum shifted as Xu took the second game 21-15.
The decider was tightly contested. Rakshitha fought hard, staying within touching distance for much of the game. But in the closing phase, Xu held her nerve, stringing together key points to seal the match 17-21. The 1-2 defeat closed the tie at 0-3 in China’s favour.
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While the quarterfinal exit ends India’s campaign, the broader picture reflects progress. The team featured a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talent, including Tanvi Sharma, who continues to show promise against higher-ranked opposition.
The doubles pairing of Treesa and Gayatri once again demonstrated their ability to challenge elite combinations, pushing one of the world’s best pairs to the brink in the opening game. Rakshitha’s competitive display further highlighted the growing depth in Indian women’s singles beyond the established names. China’s clinical performance served as a reminder of the standards required to consistently compete for continental titles. Their depth across singles and doubles remains a benchmark in Asian badminton.
For India, the tournament provided valuable exposure in high-pressure knockout conditions. The experience of facing a powerhouse like China in a team format will contribute to the squad’s growth, particularly with younger players gaining crucial match time.
Though the scoreboard reads 0–3, the campaign offered important lessons and reaffirmed the upward trajectory of Indian women’s badminton. The challenge now lies in converting competitive performances into decisive victories as the team looks ahead to future continental and global assignments.
