Natsuki nidaira

Badminton Asia Team Championships: Asmita Chaliha, Anmol Kharab, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand did the star turn as the Indian women’s team rode on the prowess of their young guns to upset top seed Japan 3-2 and reached their first-ever final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships at Selangor, Malaysia, on Saturday.

Young singles players of the team, Ashmita Chaliha and Anmol Kharab, continued their superb run in the tournament by beating Nozomi Okuhara and Natsuki Nidaira, respectively. The doubles combination of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand stunned the world No. 6 pairing of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida to win a point for India.

“This is a proud moment for Indian badminton. Youngsters have justified the selection by rising to the occasion and contributing to the success and history by reaching the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships for the first time” said Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary, Badminton Association of India.