Hong Kong stuns India in mixed doubles at German Open – Badminton news
The Indian expedition was put to halt in mixed doubles event as the pair Diju V- Jwala Gutta was tamed by Hong Kong’s Wai Hong Wong-Hoi Wah Chau in a first round match at the German Open today.
The Hong Kong’s mix doubles team undoubtedly delivered a stunner by beating their opponent Indian duo with 18-21, 21-9 and 21-19.
The World Number 13 duo Diju V- Jwala Gutta was India’s biggest hope in mixed doubles event and was tagged favourite for their opening encounter with comparatively low ranked World Number 35 pair Wai Hong Wong-Hoi Wah Chau but the results proved the previews
wrong.
The 51 minutes nerve-racking fight was full of drama as both teams put all they got and took the game to new heights.
The Indian pair started well in opening set and clinched the first match point by nailing their rivals with scorecard flashing the final score of 21-18. It was a neck and neck contest as both teams tried to excel each other on the scoreboard but Indians
sealed the match point in the end.
However, the celebration had really short life as Hong Kong’s shuttlers stormed back in the second game and dazzled the Indians with their gusty performance. They levelled the lead by winning second set with notable margin of 21-9.
The Indian duo Diju V- Jwala Gutta could not retaliate against their powerful attack and trailed far behind their Hong Kong challengers on the scoreboard. The couple Wai Hong -Hoi Wah did not give the Indians even a single chance to rise and turned their
plans of straight-set victory into dust.
The final set was a survival of the fittest war as last match point became crucial for both teams to avoid a first round exit. The contenders exhibited the prime class skills and tested each other in mental and physical fitness.
The match kept hanging between the two competitors till the Hong Kong mixed doubles team sealed the 2-1 victory over their Indian rivals by registering decisive margin of 21-19 on the scoreboard.
This booked a ticket to home for the Indian mixed doubles team and second round spot for Hong Kong who will lock horns either with the Chinese pair Tao Jiaming-Xia Huan or the Korean duo Yong Dae Lee-Jung Eun Ha in second round.
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