India set to take on Malaysia in Thomas Cup quarter-finals
Indian men’s team will take on Malaysian opponents today in the quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup Asian Zone qualifying tournament at Macau.
Indian shuttlers have made their way to the second stage despite of losing to Indonesia yesterday. Malaysia reserved their right to play quarter-finals by surpassing South Korea and Hong Kong.
India will be playing with experienced Parupalli Kashyap, Anand Pawar, and young B Sai Praneeth in singles matches. On other hand Rupesh Kumar- Sanave Thomas and Akshay Dewalkar -Pranav Chopra are expected to represent the country in doubles.
Malaysian squad includes Lee Chong Wei, Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, and Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem. It could be either Arif Abdul Latif or Daren Liew as third singles player.
On papers, Malaysian team has edge over Indian shuttlers but who knows how the wind blows in Macau today.
P. Kashyap will face the toughest challenger, World Number One Lee Chong Wei. Anand Pawar will be stretching his arms against Muhammad Hafiz Hashim.
In first Doubles encounter Rupesh Kumar- Sanave Thomas will take on Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong. The pair of Akshay Dewalkar -Pranav Chopra will see Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem while B Sai Praneeth will lock horns with Arif Abdul Latif or Daren Liew.
Charge of young Praneeth will be a treat to watch as he has forced everyone to take notice of his performance against Indonesia.
On third day of the tournament Indian shuttlers could not exhibit their skills as the men's team went down 2-3 after acting tough against Indonesia in Macau.
India started with their top gun P.Kashyap losing to Simon Santoso. The duo of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas tried to boost the morale by beating their Indonesian counterpart Alvent Yulianto Chandra and Hendra Aprida Gunawan.
The Indonesia reclaimed its lead when the shuttler Taufiq Hidayat out classed Anand Pawar in the next singles game while the Indonesian duo Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan overcame Akshay Dewalkar- Pranav Chopra.
In the trivial fifth match, India’s B Sai Praneeth gave the Indians something to cheer about by putting a good show and winning against Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka.
India’s main striker P. Kashyap and young shuttler B Sai Praneeth have huge responsibility on their shoulders today to live up to the expectations.
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