Jwala-Ashwini pair loses in semifinals, settles for bronze

London: India's Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa lost 14-21, 16-21 to Chinese fifth-seeded pair of Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei in the women's doubles semi-final of the World Badminton Championship to settle for a bronze medal.



Jwala and Ashwini were impressive in flashes but failed to keep up with the Chinese pair, and went down in 38 minutes Saturday night.

It was the pair's first medal in the World Championships and also of the country in 28 years.

Jwala and Ashwini, ranked 21, did well to rally from 2-6 down to 8-8 in the first game but slumped to a rash of errors to go down.

The Chinese continued in the same vein to take a 11-6 lead in the second game but Jwala with a terrific net play and Aswini supporting from the backcourt bridged the gap to 16-17. But the Chinese soon upped the ante to reel off four points to wrap up the game and the match.

Their semifinal finish will propel Jwala and Ashwini three places to 18 and will boost their chances of qualifying for the Olympics. — IANS

Saina ousted, jwala-ashwini ENTER SEMIS TO SCRIPT HISTORY

LONDON: India’s World No 6 Saina Nehwal’s quarter-final jinx continued as she lost to China’s World No 3 Wang Xin in the World Championships art the Wembley Arena here yesterday. Saina, who also stumbled at this very stage in the last two editions of the tournament, went down 15-21, 10-21.

However, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa made history by becoming India’s first-ever women’s doubles pair to reach the last four stage of the World Championships. The Commonwealth Games gold medallists beat the 12th seed Indonesian pair of Vita Marissa and Nadya Melati

17-21 21-10 21-17 in a keenly fought 47-minute encounter. The World No 21 duo next take on fifth seeds Qing Tian and Yunlei Zhao of China, who edged out fourth seeds Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa of Japan 21-16 21-10 in their quarter-final match yesterday. — Agencies

Gutta-Ponnappa in All England doubles 2nd Rd

Indian women's doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa made a winning start while Anand Pawar crashed out in men's singles of the All Englnd Badminton Championships at Birmingham today.

In pic: Jwala Gutta (R) and Ashwini Ponnappa

Gutta and Ponnappa needed 23 minutes to send the Danish duo of Maria Helsbol and Anne Skelbaek packing 21-11 21-18 in the first round match. In the second round, the Indian pair will take on Danish qualifiers Damkjaer Kruse and Marie Roepke who stunned seven seeded Indonesian duo of Meiliana Jauhari and Greysia Polii in another first round match.

Meanwhile, Anand Pawar went down fighting 16-21 18-21 to Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in a men's singles first round match which lasted 31 minutes. Both the players had made it to the main draw after playing in the qualifying round. —PTI