Sudirman Cup 2015, Dongguan, China- May 5-17

[sameerph]

The premier mixed team event starts today in China.

This is the group stage draw -

GROUP 1A
CHINA
THAILAND
GERMANY

GROUP 1B
JAPAN
CHINESE TAIPEI
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

GROUP 1C
DENMARK
INDONESIA
ENGLAND

GROUP 1D
SOUTH KOREA
INDIA
MALAYSIA

Top 2 teams in each group will make the quarter final. So, we will have to beat either of Malaysia or Korea to make it which is a tough ask specially since Lee Chng Wei will be back playing for Malaysia after his doping ban was overturned.

[sameerph]

This is the Indian team -

MS - K. Srikanth, Kashyap Parupalli
WS - Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu
MD - Manu Attri / Sumeeth Reddy, Akshay Dewalkar / Pranaav Jerry Choppra
WD - Jwalla Gupta / Ashwini Ponnapa, Sikki Reddy.
MX - Kona Tarun / Sikki Reddy, Ashwini Ponnapa / Manu Attri

Doubles teams are our week link. With that, the responsibility will be on Srikanth/Saina to win all their match if we have to stay in hunt.

[sameerph]

In the first match in our group today, Malaysia surprised favorites Korea 3-2. We will play Malaysia tomorrow at 4.30 pm IST time. A win here will be great but looks difficult with Lee Chong Wei back and poor strength of our doubles teams.

[sameerph]

India trailing 1-2 against Malaysia.

[MD] Manu Attri / Sumeeth Reddy B. l. Goh V Shem /Tan Wee Kiong 5-21 16-21 0-1 0:33
[WS ] Saina Nehwal d. Tee Jing Yi 24-22 21-13
[MS] Srikanth Kidambi l.Lee Chong Wei 16-21 15-21

[sameerph]

Jwala-Ashwini have won the first game 21-18 against higher ranked Malaysian pair.

[ankit1407]

Loses second set, 21-19...some lose play on crucial points...

[ankit1407]

Jwala Ashwini wins it in 3 sets... So it's 2-2....

[prashanthm]

But lost the XD match to lose the tie 2-3...

Malaysia tops the group...

India will have to beat Korea to qualify for the Main rounds (QF)...

[sameerph]

Our team meets Korea at 10.30 am Indian time today.

We have no chance in mens and mixed doubles against strong Korean pairs. If we have to win, we have to win mens singles where we are fielding 13 th ranked Kashyap this time against 5th ranked Son Wan Ho , womens singles where 2nd ranked Saina is up against 13th ranked Bae Yeon Ju and womens doubles.

[sameerph]

1-4 loss to India against Korea and our challenger ends here.

India l. Korea 1-4

[MD] Kim Gi Jung / Kim Sa Rang d. Pranaav Jerry Chopra /Akshay Dewalkar 21-10 21-19
[WS] Bae Yeon Ju l. Saina Nehwal 20-22 21-17 13-21
[MS] Son Wan Ho [KOR] d. Kashyap Parupalli 13-21 21-14 21-13
[WD] Chang Ye Na /Jung Kyung Eun d. Jwala Gutta /Ashwini Ponnappa 18-21 21-12 21-12
[XD] Kim Ha Na / Ko Sung Hyun [KOR] l. Manu Attri / Sikki Reddy N. 21-12 22-20

Only Saina managed to win. Disappointing losses for Kashyap and Jwala/Ashwini after winning the first game.

We really need some good pairs to come up in mens doubles and mixed doubles for us to have a chance in these team events.

[arjun2761]

This format also seems to value doubles play a lot.

A better format would be to have a best of 7 with 2 MS, 2 WS, 1 WD, 1 MD, and 1 XD. This would give us a reasonable shot at winning at least the 4 singles matches.

[sameerph]

You are right. This tournament gives 60% weightage to doubles and 40% to singles. Even in other team tournaments in badminton like Thomas/Uber cups, there are 3 singles and 2 doubles which is the right mix.

Having said that, at events like Olympics and Asiad, a doubles medal has same value as singles. So, it is very important for us to get stronger in doubles eventually.