Sport - Badminton

India loses to S. Korea

New Delhi: Indian shuttlers twice rallied from a match down but could not keep their nerves when it mattered the most as they lost 2-3 to South Koreans in the team semifinals of the World Junior badminton championships in Pune on Sunday.

India lost the crucial women’s doubles encounter to miss a berth in the final.

The host will now take on Malaysia for the third place play-off after it was blanked 0-3 by China.

India was dealt a blow when Aditya Prakash and Prajakta Sawant lost the opening mixed doubles match 21-23, 16-21 to Gi Jung Kim and Hye Won Eom.

Up next was Saina Nehwal, and the girl from Hyderabad was staring at defeat after losing the first game 14-21 to Youn Joo Bae.

However, Saina bounced back to take the next two sets 21-15, 21-8 and pull India back on level terms.

However, India could not keep the momentum going as B. Sai Praneeth and Pranav Chopra lost the men’s doubles match 14-21, 19-21 to Gi Jung and Young Woo Choi.

Gurusaidutt raised India’s hopes when he downed Dong Keun Lee 14-21, 21-17, 21-18 to once again get the host back on level terms.

But Hye Won and Kyung Eun Jung dashed India’s hopes when they beat Sikki Reddy and Thulasi 21-13, 21-9 in the women’s doubles to take the Koreans to the final. — PTI

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