Japan breaks Indian hearts as PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma lose in Asian Games quarterfinals

India’s PV Sindhu (ANI Photo) The Indian women’s badminton team crashed out of the Asian Games after Japan secured a 3-1 victory in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, with the singles players unable to match the impact of the World Championships bronze medal-winning doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.India got off to a tough start as two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu took on world number three Akane Yamaguchi in the opening singles. Sindhu fought hard to win the first game 23-21, but Yamaguchi gradually took control of the contest to win the next two games 21-18, 21-6.Asian Games full coverage | Schedule | Medal total

Sindhu fights back before Yamaguchi takes control

Sindhu trailed 13-17 in the opening game but produced a strong recovery to move ahead. The contest featured several long exchanges, with exchanges often reaching 35-36 shots.The Indian had a game point, but a misjudgment in a back-line call gave Yamaguchi an opportunity to stay in contention. Sindhu earned another game point after Yamaguchi found the net and then closed out the game with a cross-court forehand winner.Yamaguchi responded after switching sides to take a two-point lead at the halfway mark. Sindhu tried to fight back after trailing 12-17 but the Japanese shuttler held firm and took the second game 21-18.The decisive match turned out to be one-sided. Yamaguchi opened up a 14-6 lead and scored 10 match points before sealing the win with a pinpoint return.

Miyazaki gives command to Japan

India needed Unnati Hooda to level the tie, but the youngster could not get past 2022 World Junior champion and current world number seven Tomoka Miyazaki.Miyazaki controlled the match to secure a 21-16, 21-18 victory, leaving Japan just one win away from the semi-finals and trailing India 0-2.

Treesa-Gayatri keep India alive

India’s World Cup bronze medal duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand then delivered when the team needed them most.Treesa and Gayatri, fresh from winning their first bronze at the World Championships in New Delhi, defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16 in the first doubles match.The win reduced the deficit to 1-2 and briefly kept India’s hopes of completing the comeback alive.

Okuhara seals Japan’s place in the semi-finals

But the deciding match went to Japan.Young Indian shuttler Tanvi Sharma faced former world champion Nozomi Okuhara but could not find an answer to her opponent’s game. Okuhara won 21-12, 21-10 to give Japan an unassailable 3-1 lead.The result ended the Indian women’s badminton team’s campaign at the Asian Games, despite strong performances from Treesa and Gayatri and Sindhu’s spirited opening match against Yamaguchi.