Indian Women lose to Thailand 2-3 but make the Quarterfinals at Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026

India’s women’s team endured a testing evening at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026 in Qingdao, going down 2–3 to Thailand in their final Group Y tie but still progressing to the quarterfinals as group runners-up.

In a contest that swung dramatically after a strong Indian start, the tie underlined both the promise and the growing pains of a young Indian squad competing against one of Asia’s most consistent badminton nations.

India entered the tie on the back of a commanding 5–0 win over Myanmar, while Thailand arrived with their own ambitions of topping the group. With quarterfinal qualification already within reach, the encounter effectively became a battle for group supremacy and a more favourable draw in the knockout stage. What followed was a gripping five-match contest in which India surged ahead early before Thailand clawed their way back with composure and depth.

The evening began with a performance that once again highlighted why Tanvi Sharma is being spoken of as one of the brightest prospects in world badminton. The 17-year-old, a junior world championships silver medallist, was handed the responsibility of leading India in the opening women’s singles. Facing world number 16 Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Tanvi showed remarkable maturity and shot selection to secure a 21–14, 17–21, 21–18 victory. Mixing sharp attacking strokes with patient rally construction, Tanvi absorbed the pressure in the decider and closed out the match confidently to give India a crucial 1–0 lead.

The momentum carried into the first women’s doubles, where Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela continued their strong run in the tournament. Up against a lower-ranked but spirited Thai pair, Jolly and Pullela were stretched into a decider but held their nerve when it mattered most. Their 21–14, 20–22, 21–11 win pushed India into a commanding 2–0 advantage, placing the defending champions firmly in control of the tie and just one win away from sealing top spot in the group.

At that stage, India appeared well placed to close out the contest. However, Thailand’s depth and experience began to tell as the tie moved into the latter stages. In the second women’s singles, Rakshita Santhosh fought hard against Pornpawee Opatniputh but was unable to maintain her early intensity. Opatniputh gradually asserted control of the rallies, turning defence into attack and winning key points at the business end of both games. Her straight-games victory, 21–19, 21–17, reduced India’s lead to 2–1 and shifted the momentum decisively.

The pressure then fell on the second women’s doubles combination of Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra. Facing a young Thai pair ranked in the mid-50s, the Indian duo started positively but struggled to sustain consistency across three games. Thailand’s aggressive net play and sharper rotation proved decisive in the decider, as Crasto and Mishra went down 21–19, 14–21, 15–21. With that result, the tie was level at 2–2, setting up a winner-takes-all final singles encounter.

The responsibility of sealing the tie and potentially topping the group rested on Malvika Bansod. Tasked with taking on Phittayaporn Choeikeewong, Malvika found herself under sustained pressure from the Thai shuttler’s pace and precision. Despite flashes of resistance, Bansod was unable to wrest control of the rallies and went down in straight games, 21–18, 21–14. Thailand completed a remarkable comeback, winning the last three matches of the tie to claim a 3–2 victory.

While the loss denied India the top spot in Group Y, the larger picture remained positive. Finishing second ensured qualification to the quarterfinals, keeping India firmly in contention to defend their continental crown. The tie against Thailand also served as a valuable reality check, highlighting areas that require sharpening ahead of the knockout rounds.

The positives were clear. Tanvi Sharma’s fearless display against a top-20 opponent reinforced her rapid rise and underlined India’s growing depth in women’s singles. The first-choice doubles pairing of Jolly and Pullela once again delivered under pressure, continuing to be a reliable pillar for the team. At the same time, the defeats exposed the fine margins at the highest level, particularly in the middle-order singles and second doubles, where consistency across three games proved elusive.

As India moves into the quarterfinal stage, the lessons from the Thailand tie will be crucial. Against stronger opposition, closing out ties from winning positions and managing momentum swings will be decisive. For a squad blending youth with experience, such tests are part of the learning curve.

Despite the 2–3 setback, India remains very much in the hunt at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026. With knockout badminton ahead, the focus now shifts to regrouping quickly, tightening execution, and converting promising starts into decisive victories when the pressure peaks.