Indian badminton player, Sameer Verma, went against Chen Long in Sudirman Cup (Image via: News18)

Sudirman Cup: China Thrashes India 5-0

The Indians had to go home earlier. They stood no chance against the 10 time champion China. Meanwhile, the current India could only manage to go until quarter-final stage in 2011 & 2017.

With their initial loss against Malaysia in the opening game for Group D, it is certain that India had to go back home. Malaysia was beaten by China on 19 May with the same score.

India required more than luck to beat China, they need skills which they would find themselves lacking by the end of the matches. Bad news came from Srikanth Kidambi, one of India’s main cannons, sustained injury while practicing.

The first game was in Mixed Double sector, Pranaav Jerry Chopra/N. Sikki Reddy went face to face against the world number 2 Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping. Tracing their records, the last time both met was in 2018 Yonex All England, where the Chinese pair beat their less favored opponent (21-6, 21-10). The history repeated itself when the Chinese pair soared above the Indian pair, beating them 21-5, 21-10. Ironically, the score did not change that much, just 1 point margin each.

Replacing Srikanth was Sameer Verma. He went head to head against the former number 1, current Olympic champion and China’s top Men Single player, Chen Long. While the odd seemed agaisnt Verma, he actually gave a good fight, although the game still went to Chen Long 17-21, 20-22 for over an hour.

Han Chengkai/Zhou Haodong beat Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty in rubber game after losing the first match 21-18, 15-21, 17-21; thus, making it 3-0 for China.

The former world number 1, Saina Nehwal, went against Chen Yufei, the current All England champion on around 30 minutes shuttlecock exchange. The result was that Chen Yufei was too strong for her, having been beaten 12-21, 17-21. To top it off, Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan mopped the floor with Ashwini Ponnappa/N. Sikki Reddy in a straight game 21-12, 21-15.

With this game, it is certain that China qualified to the next round. On the other hands, Tai Tzu Ying could not help Chinese Taipei as they were beaten 2-3 by South Korea. Indonesia is facing their bitter enemy Denmark, and the rising Japan is facing the black horse Thailand.

Currently, the game is on for Indonesia against Denmark.