By Maj Gen PK Mallick,(Retd)
Whenever the historical past of Indian sports activities is written, as we speak’s victory on the planet crew championship in badminton, the Thomas Cup, will likely be written in golden letters. History has been made. India has by no means been within the medal spherical of the Thomas Cup. Now India is the sixth nation within the 75 years historical past of the Thomas Cup to win it.
India entered the event because the fifth seed. Got overwhelmed by Taiwan within the league stage. But indications have been there for India’s sturdy efficiency.
India’s Number one singles participant and world quantity 9 Lakshya Sen was down by meals poisoning at the beginning of the event. As per the format, every crew fields their primary within the first singles. Lakshya Sen misplaced his three singles matches towards a lot larger opponents like world primary from Denmark. But cometh the hour cometh the person within the finals. In the primary singles, Lakshya Sen was up towards world No. 4 Anthony Ginting. He misplaced the primary recreation at eight. Won the second at 17. In the third, Sen was down and out and was trailing at 11-7. But the younger star stored his nerve, rallied splendidly and beat Anthony Ginting 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 and gave India the lead within the closing. Lakshay has not gained something until now. He wins the primary match within the finals within the battle of primary. What a time to win.
Game on
India’s primary doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty someway doesn’t get the dues. They have gained the all-important doubles match within the quarterfinals and semifinal. Today within the finals they have been up towards the much-fancied pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. They are world primary and two in doubles with different companions. The Indians misplaced the primary recreation at 18. In the second recreation, the Indian pair was down and out. Was down match level at 20-17 and 21-20. Miraculously the Indians saved 4 match factors and gained the sport at 23-21. In a tension-filled third recreation, India gained the match at 19.
India leads 2-0
Then got here the icing on the cake. India’s Kidambi Srikanth has been crucial to India’s success on the Thomas Cup this 12 months. The former world primary has gained all 5 matches he’s performed. After getting back from damage he has proven the grit that’s not typically been on show over the previous few seasons. He needed to dig deep to tug out a vital 21-18, 12-21, 21-15 win over Anders Antonsen within the semifinal towards Denmark. He was to play towards the reigning Asian Games gold medallist and hero of Indonesia’s final Thomas Cup win, Jonatan Christie. Christie has overwhelmed Srikanth twice this season already. But going by the way in which Srikant Kidambi has been taking part in on this event there was a quiet air of confidence within the Indian camp.
It was a cat and mouse recreation within the first recreation. The rating was degree at 15 all. Then Kidambi reeled off 5 consecutive factors to win at 15. India is one recreation away from the Thomas Cup.
In the second recreation Srikant was main 13-11. All of a sudden Christie gained eight of the following 9 factors. Kidambi was trailing at 16-18. Cool as a cucumber Srikant took management, saved a recreation level and gained the sport, match and the Thomas Cup 21-15, 23-21; India has overwhelmed 14-time champion Indonesia 3-0 within the closing. Would you will have believed this scoreline earlier than the beginning of the event?
Think in regards to the exploits of H S Prannoy. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, the rating was degree at two-all. Both instances he gained to get India to the following spherical. In the semis towards Denmark, he injured his ankle. Prannoy was not required within the finals!
Look on the scoreline towards Denmark within the semifinals.
First Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty win 21-18, 21-23, 22-20 towards Kim Astrup/Mathias Christiansen’
Second Singles: Kidambi Srikanth 21-18, 12-21, 21-15 towards Anders Antonsen.
Third Singles: H S Prannoy wins 13-21, 21-9, 21-12 towards Rasmus Gemke.
This is new India. Take a bow.
(The creator is an Indian Army Veteran. Views expressed are private and don’t replicate the official place or coverage of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content material with out permission is prohibited).
Source: www.financialexpress.com