Badminton Asia Team Championships: Indian Women's Badminton team creates history by winning the title for the first time

India Women's Badminton team created history by winning the Badminton Asia Team Championships title by defeating Thailand 3-2 in a tight final in Selangor, Malaysia on Sunday.

Also Read: Badminton Asia Team Championships: Indian women's team creates history by confirming place in the final for the first time

This was the 5th edition of the Badminton Asia Team Championships being played since 2016. This is the first time that India has won the prestigious continental championships title in the history of the game. Whereas the men's team has earlier won bronze in 2016 and 2020.

PV Sindhu, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly and teenage sensation Anmol Kharb won their respective matches as India won the final 3-2 in Shah Alam on Sunday. The star of the show was Anmol Kharb, aged just 17, who once again came up clutch in the most high pressure situation. India beat China, Hong Kong, Japan and now Thailand at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, three out of four wins coming against steep odds.

PV Sindhu started with victory

PV Sindhu, playing her first tournament after returning from injury, gave India a 1-0 lead by defeating Supaninda Katethong 21-12, 21-12 in just 39 minutes. India went 2-0 up as Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly defeated Jongkolpham Kititharakul and Rawwinda Prajongjal in a tight three-game encounter. Gayatri and Jolly kept their spirits up and came back from 6-11 down in the final game to defeat the Thai pair 21-16, 18-21, 21-16 in the first doubles match of the 5-match tie.

Anmol Kharb won the decisive match

However, Ashmita Chaliha, who had defeated former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the semi-finals against Japan, lost to Busanan Ongbamrungphan 11-21, 14-21. India also lost the second doubles match. After this, 16-year-old Anmol Kharb, who was ranked 472nd in the world ranking, once again won in the decisive match. The Saina Nehwal fan showed courage on the biggest stage and defeated world number 45 Pornpicha Choeikeewong in straight games to give India a decisive win.