Badminton, Thomas and Uber Cup Day 4, as it happened: India lose ties against Korea, Chinese Taipei

Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei 3-2 India, Lu Chia Hung 18-21, 21-17, 18-21 HS Prannoy: HS Prannoy helps India end the tie on a high!. The match kept going back and forth and the Indian did well to hold his nerves at the end.

Chinese Taipei 3-1 India, Lu Chia Hung 18-21, 21-17, 6-11 HS Prannoy: Prannoy came out with confidence at the start of the decider and raced to a 9-3 lead. Lu fought back to win the next three points but the Indian regains control to take a healthy lead to the interval.

Chinese Taipei 3-1 India, Lu Chia Hung 18-21, 21-17 HS Prannoy: HS Prannoy managed to win four straight points but it wasn’t enough as Lu Chia Hung does well to close out the second game. We’re heading into a decider!

Chinese Taipei 3-1 India, Lu Chia Hung 18-21, 11-6 HS Prannoy: Lu Chia Hung with a healthy lead at the second game interval. HS Prannoy had the momentum but he’s under the pump now.

Chinese Taipei 3-1 India, Lu Chia Hung 18-21 HS Prannoy: Prannoy wins the opener! The Indian won five points in a row to close out the first game. He was helped by some errors from Lu but mixed things up wonderfully.

Chinese Taipei 3-1 India, Lu Chia Hung 11-9 HS Prannoy: Lu Chia Hung started strong and took a 5-0 lead before HS Prannoy levelled things up by winning the next five points. But it is Lu who takes a 11-8 lead to the interval.

Thomas CUP Group C, Chinese Taipei 3-1 India: HS Prannoy takes on Lu Chia Hung in the last match of the tie. India would want to win this and close the gap.

Vinayakk Mohanarangan: Absolute thriller of a doubles match... I just wish Dhruv/Arjun find a way soon to convert these fighting performances into a breakthrough result / run. In the last year alone, they have lost in 3 vs Daddies, Ong-Teo, Satwik-Chirag, Alfian-Ardianto.

Thomas CUP Group C, Chinese Taipei 3-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-21, 21-19 Arjun-Dhruv: Lu Ching Yao & Yang Po Han complete a remarkable fightback to beat Dhruv Kapila & Arjun MR 21-17, 19-21, 21-19. They won 12 of the last 19 points to seal the deal. And with that, Chinese Taipei clinch the tie too.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-21, 20-19 Arjun-Dhruv: The Indians save FOUR match points! Lu-Yang returned three smashes sitting on the floor but couldn’t save the point. India then reduce the deficit to just one point.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-21, 14-12 Arjun-Dhruv: Lu–Yang raising their game when they needed it most. They win five points in a row to pull ahead. Arjun-Dhruv under pressure and will need to forget this streak quickly to bounce back.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-21, 9-11 Arjun-Dhruv: Arjun-Dhruv take a crucial lead to the third game interval. The Indians had the momentum heading into the decider and have done well to keep their nose ahead. Lu-Yang are struggling to match the level they found in the opener.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-21, 2-4 Arjun-Dhruv: The Indians have carried the momentum and taken a lead in the decider too. Still a long way to go but Arjun-Dhruv definitely have the edge at the moment.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-21 Arjun-Dhruv: We’re all square! Arjun-Dhruv win four points in a row to win the second game. Brilliant fightback by the duo to keep India alive in the tie. We’re going to a decider!

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 19-19 Arjun-Dhruv: The Indians win two points in a row to level things up. They’re receiving plenty of support from their teammates in the stands. Lu-Yang are pumped too.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 16-16 Arjun-Dhruv: It’s still neck and neck in the second game! Both pairs are trying to be aggressive but seem to be a bit tentative too. Crucial few minutes coming up.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 10-11 Arjun-Dhruv: And the Indians make it six points in a row to take a narrow lead to the second game interval. High quality play this by Arjun and Dhruv.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 10-10 Arjun-Dhruv: Super comeback by the Indians! They win five points in a row to steal the momentum. A fantastic 29-shot rally to level things up.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17, 6-3 Arjun-Dhruv: Lu-Yang have opened up a healthy lead in the second game and are dictating play. Arjun-Dhruv will need to make a move soon if India are to stay alive in this tie.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 21-17 Arjun-Dhruv: Lu-Yang take the first game. They upped their game after the interval and did well to hold off a fightback by Arjun-Dhruv. The Indians are still very much in this and will be determined to force a decider. They’d want to keep a check on offering cheap points to their opponents.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 13-12 Arjun-Dhruv: The Indians snap a four-point losing streak. Lu-Yang moving their opponents well and are starting to find their rhythm.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 9-11 Arjun-Dhruv: The Indian pair shows plenty of aggression and takes a lead to the interval. Lu-Yang have blocked well but they need to reduce errors.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Lu-Yang 6-6 Arjun-Dhruv: It’s all square in the opening game after the Indians had pulled ahead early on. A number of errors from both pairs so far.

Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei 2-1 India: Lu Ching Yao & Yang Po Han are a former top 10 pair, back in November 2017. “Started out really well this pair, but faded out in my opinion,” says Steen Pedersen on commentary.

Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei 2-1 India: Srikanth’s win just about keeps India’s hopes alive but Dhruv Kapila / MR Arjun will have their task cut out against world No 24 Yang Po Han and Lu Ching Yao. This is their first meeting.

Chinese Taipei 2-1 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 16-21 Srikanth Kidambi: AND FINALLY, AN INDIAN WIN FOR TODAY! Srikanth too is pumped at the end of it all, one of the most vocal celebrations you are likely to see from him. He keeps India’s hopes alive in this tie.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 16-20 Srikanth Kidambi: That was a 32-shot rally on *match point.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 16-20 Srikanth Kidambi: Srikanth kept pulling away once Wang caught up and has 5 match points. But WTW saves one after a fantastic rally.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 12-12 Srikanth Kidambi: And WTW has caught up.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 8-11 Srikanth Kidambi: A strong run of five straight points, with a little bit of help from the top of the net, and Srikanth has a handy lead heading into the interval.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 8-7 Srikanth Kidambi: The net chord is Indian at the moment! Obeying Srikanth’s will.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21, 6-5 Srikanth Kidambi: Erratic start from Srikanth to the second game... he’s missing some simple smashes and then a hugely luck net chord.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 19-21 Srikanth Kidambi: Game 1, Srikanth! A brilliant back-and-forth battle, with some lovely net exchanges from both players. In the end, Sri takes the lead.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 18-20 Srikanth Kidambi: Akane-esque forward lunging by Srikanth, followed a good crosscourt forehand block. Game points.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 18-19 Srikanth Kidambi: Superb injection of pace right from the service return. Srikanth two points away... and then WTW wins a good rally, as Srikanth’s attempted deception at the net falls short. Still anybody’s game.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 15-17 Srikanth Kidambi: Couple of really well constructed points, and Srikanth is into the lead.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 13-11 Srikanth Kidambi: The Indian plays a lovely rally but misjudges the shuttle at the back court to give the serve back. Gets it right back with a lovely backhand crosscourt block for a winner. Gets the judgement right next rally, 2-point game now.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 11-8 Srikanth Kidambi: Unsurprisingly, given their strengths, a lot of this match is happening at the net. WTW is shading this at the moment. Srikanth will want to cut down the easy points he is giving away.

Chinese Taipei 2-0 India, Wang Tzu Wei 6-5 Srikanth Kidambi: WTW already slipping at the start of the game from the near side. But it is a good start from him otherwise, going into the lead after trailing early.

Meanwhile, the Indonesians are also down 0-2 in their tie against Korea. No Jonatan Christie either. Could be heading for a 2nd place finish in this group, with a lot riding on the final singles tie between two players ranked outside 600.

Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei 2-0 India: Time for two former top 10 players (Srikanth a former world No 1, Wang Tzu Wei a former No 9) who are now in the top 20. Srikanth has the upper hand H2H but they haven’t met often recently, while Wang won their last meeting in 2021 January.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 21-19 Satwik/Chirag: Joy for the Olympic champions, heartbreak for the Indians. Satwik’s service return agonisingly falls on the other side of the net after dangling on the chord. Great fight in the second game by the Indians but the damage was done early on.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 20-19 Satwik/Chirag: Great defence by the Indians but can’t finish the point. Match point TPE.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 19-19 Satwik/Chirag: WHAT A RALLY! Great movement from the Indians, Satwik closes the rally with a clever drive to the backcourt.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 19-18 Satwik/Chirag: Ah, the run ends for the Indians but the get the serve back right away. Still one point in it.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 18-17 Satwik/Chirag: Good phase for the Indians. Nice 1-2 punches at the net starting from Satwik’s serve. Life in this yet.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 18-14 Satwik/Chirag: Satwik misses a rather straightforward kill at the net. Not been the Indians’ day.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 15-12 Satwik/Chirag: Service drops short from Chirag and the pumped up TPE pair go three ahead.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 11-9 Satwik/Chirag: This is a fantastic doubles match now. Both pairs showing what they are capable of with those speedy exchanges. The lead has changed hands but it now resides with the TPE pair at the interval.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11, 4-4 Satwik/Chirag: Oh boy, Chirag slipped on court... then racket strings broke... then he rushed to replace his racket and slipped on the matting near his kit bag... came back to the court but Satwik sent the shuttle wide. So much happened there. Even start to the 2nd game though.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 21-11 Satwik/Chirag: Couldn’t hear much from Mathias Boe apart from “restart” at the end. That’s pretty much all the Indians can do here. Complete domination by the Olympic champs in the opening game.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 15-6 Satwik/Chirag: Far too many easy, quick points on serve for the TPE pair. They are running away with this.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 11-6 Satwik/Chirag: Not an ideal start for the Indians. Lee/Wang are enjoying success on their serves.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India, Lee/Wang 6-2 Satwik/Chirag: Incidentally, their only previous meeting was in fact at the Olympics and Indians had won that match in the group stage. Strong start by TPE here.

Chinese Taipei 1-0 India: Time for doubles... Satwik-Chirag vs Olympic champions Lee/Wang

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 21-17 Lakshya Sen: What a match! Lakshya Sen, despite struggling with conditions, kept fighting back till the very end. Saved a couple of match points too. But world No 4 Chou Tien Chen hangs on to take the lead in this tie. Gritty from both players.

Here’s how the games panned out:

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 20-15 Lakshya Sen: Another soft forehand error and CTC has FIVE match points.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 19-15 Lakshya Sen: Oh dear, Lakshya misses the lines either side of the court twice and it is a big lead for CTC.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 17-15 Lakshya Sen: After working so hard to stay in the point despite slips, Lakshya nets a smash! But recovers quickly enough to win the next two points. What grit.

Boy it’s been a struggle for Ginting in this year’s Thomas Cup. Played three, lost three so far.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 16-13 Lakshya Sen: Big roar from CTC after winning a flat exchange. He knows how big that point was.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 14-11 Lakshya Sen: 45 SHOT RALLY! Superb from Lakshya to stay in it and he forces the error in the end.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 14-10 Lakshya Sen: The Indian does not seem comfortable here with the court at all, constantly looking at the surface after points. Unfortunate, it is clearly affecting his movement. Gets the serve back on 10 with a lucky net chord that floors CTC.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 12-9 Lakshya Sen: Three really good points from Lakshya after the break... and again he nearly loses his footing. Oh boy, more wiping. But yes, the score is closer now for the Indian.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 11-6 Lakshya Sen: A slightly desperate challenge from Lakshya, he loses it and it means we change ends with a handy lead for the world No 4.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 10-6 Lakshya Sen: Chen slips again at the same point he did in the opening game! He is down on the court but his smash had enough power to win him that point. This is so dangerous.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 8-6 Lakshya Sen: Absurdly good flat exchange from both players. Lakshya takes that point. Good judgement at the baseline next up, and the Indian closes in again.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 6-4 Lakshya Sen: This was the side that CTC had joy in the opening game, Lakshya would do well to stay in touch at the change of ends. Chen obviously upping the ante at the start of the decider.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21, 5-3 Lakshya Sen: I don’t have the stats with me but CTC will be right at the top of players who go to three games most often. And regularly wins too. Lakshya needs to be wary here. Good start for the world No 4 but the Indian is closing the gap.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-21 Lakshya Sen: Boom comes a return of serve crosscourt and Lakshya Sen takes the second game rather comfortably. Another 3-game match involving Chou Tien Chen, surprise surprise! Man loves these rubbers.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 13-20 Lakshya Sen: 8 game points for Lakshya, CTC saves one with a nice downward shot to the Indian’s backhand.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 11-19 Lakshya Sen: The lines are obeying Lakshya’s will at the moment. Superb couple of precise winners from the Indian when CTC misjudged the drift.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 9-14 Lakshya Sen: The Indian throws his arms wide again... frustrated again at losing his footing while trying to retrieve. Must be careful a) not to get injured and b) let this take his focus off his game.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 7-12 Lakshya Sen: Once again, CTC resorting to slowing the pace down when in deficit. Lakshya falls into the trap again and CTC closes it off at the net. To be fair to the Indian, he is not getting any speed to work with.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 4-11 Lakshya Sen: A fine run of points comes to an end at 6 for Lakshya. And that rally saw another slip of his backfoot. Yikes. But he gets the serve back right away and goes into the interval with a big lead.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 3-9 Lakshya Sen: So. Many. Slips. Players have lost their footing far too often this week in Bangkok. Not ideal at all. Lakshya Is really frustrated but quite remarkably from that point on he has gone on a spree.

Such fine margins! A mad, mad rally at 19-19 and just after doing all the hard work with CTC on the floor, Lakshya missed possibly the simplest kill he could have asked for. Instead of game point for him, it was game point CTC.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 21-19 Lakshya Sen: STUNNING RALLY AT 19-19! 54 SHOTS!!! Lakshya Sen and Chou Tien Chen give it their all and at the end of a fantastic point with CTC on the court, Lakshya misses a backhand! He’s crestfallen. That’s give CTC a game point and he converts it.

What a point:

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 19-16 Lakshya Sen: Four straight points, four big roars and CTC is now on the charge!

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 15-16 Lakshya Sen: Another patient rally, but this one ends with a brilliant crosscourt smash by the Indian. Next up, great touch at the net and he retakes the lead.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 15-14 Lakshya Sen: And the world No 4 has caught up... and now in the lead too. Great variation of pace from him, mixing it up nicely. Lakshya has lost his momentum.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 12-14 Lakshya Sen: The rallies are getting slower, longer... Lakshya wins one really patient point but this is right up CTC’s alley. He will love this slow tempo. Wonder if Lakshya is conserving a bit here to go all out later. The gap is closing.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 6-11 Lakshya Sen: Solid start from Lakshya Sen, he takes a 11-6 lead into the mid-game interval of the opening game. On a run of four strai8ght points.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 6-9 Lakshya Sen: The Indian has produced some super smashes already in this match. Good aggressive start from him.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 5-5 Lakshya Sen: Good back-and-forth to start this game.

Chinese Taipei vs India – Chou Tien Chen 0-0 Lakshya Sen: A battle between No 4 and No 9... between two players who love to give it their all on the court. This should be good.

Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei vs India: Time to decide the group toppers between two teams who have registered two 5-0 wins so far. Lakshya Sen is in action first up, he will take on world No 4 Chou Tien Chen. It’s their first meeting.

Thomas Cup Group C, Chinese Taipei vs India: Match to start at 12.30 pm IST. Lineup here.

Korea 5-0 India: Having qualified for knockouts already, India finish Group D in second place behind An Seyoung-led Korea. We will find out their quarterfinal opponents soon.

Korea 5-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18, 21-17 Ashmita Chaliha: Clean sweep complete. Ashmita Chaliha comes up with arguably the best performance by an Indian shuttler in this tie today but still wasn’t quite enough to take it to a decider. Sim Yujin wins in straight games.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18, 20-17 Ashmita Chaliha: Three match points for Sim. Can we see another fightback?

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18, 17-16 Ashmita Chaliha: A lovely precise smash by Sim to take a crucial lead and Ashmita knows it, so reviews. On the line!

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18, 14-14 Ashmita Chaliha: The Indian has now caught up a couple of times at 11, 12, 13, 14. Good stuff at the moment from both players.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18, 11-9 Ashmita Chaliha: Sim does a slender lead into the interval but feels like the Indian has the momentum.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18, 10-7 Ashmita Chaliha: At least now the fightback is happening a little early for the Indian! From 2-10, a run of 5 straight points.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 21-18 Ashmita Chaliha: After saving SIX game points and when it seemed like she could take the comeback one step higher, she lost her footing. Terrific fight though. There was a stunning forehand winner too in that run of points.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 20-15 Ashmita Chaliha: Lovely defensive box, on the 360 turn by Ashmita! Unfortunately that comes at a point where she is facing a bucketful of game points. She is fighting still.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 18-11 Ashmita Chaliha: The opening game slipping away, Ashmita not able to produce a streak of points.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 11-7 Ashmita Chaliha: That’s often the issue with Ashmita, the inconsistency in shot-making. She can produce the best of rallies and then go missing briefly.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 8-6 Ashmita Chaliha: High quality defensive point by Ashmita to close the gap to two.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin 6-3 Ashmita Chaliha: Erratic start from both players.

Korea 4-0 India, Sim Yujin vs Ashmita Chaliha: Can the Indian left-hander help her side finish with a consolation win? This is their first meeting as well.

Korea 4-0 India, Kim/Kong 21-14, 21-11 Tanisha/Treesa: Kim/Kong wrap up the 2nd doubles match of the tie in straight games, flashes of brilliance from Tanisha/Treesa but couldn’t sustain pressure consistently.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 21-14, 15-6 Tanisha/Treesa: A good point here and there but the Indians are not able to sustain the pressure. A lovely drop there by Treesa.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 21-14, 11-3 Tanisha/Treesa: Nothing left to fight for in this tie, feels like the Indians have the winds knocked out of their sails.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 21-14, 8-3 Tanisha/Treesa: Nearly 40 shots in that rally and it goes the Korean’s way. The Indians look a bit deflated at the moment.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 21-14 Tanisha/Treesa: Tanisha/Treesa had a good run in the first half of the net but Kim/Kong assert themselves at the back-end to take the opening game. Mathias Boe telling Tanisha, among other things, to take a step back from the net and give herself time to stay in points.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 19-14 Tanisha/Treesa: Ah well, we jinxed them didn’t we? Superb run of points for the Koreans. Tanisha gets the serve back with a kill at the net that betrayed frustration.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 15-13 Tanisha/Treesa: Irrespective of this match ends and how far India go in the tournament after today, Tanisha/Treesa have been a revelation. Both excellent young doubles players in their own right, but have turned up here as a pair and played some neat stuff.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 11-9 Tanisha/Treesa: Despite all the good work from the Indians, it is the Korean pair with a lead at the interval. Kong showing her class.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 6-8 Tanisha/Treesa: The run ends at 7 points for the Indians after a fantastic rally by both Indian pairs.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim/Kong 5-6 Tanisha/Treesa: Good start by the Indians here. On a run of 5 straight points...

Korea 3-0 India: Time for Kim/Kong to take on Treesa/Tanisha. On paper the rankings don’t make much sense, because both are not regular pairs. Kong Hee Yong is of course on half of a former world No 2 (and current world No 4) pair.

Korea 3-0 India, Kim Gaeun 21-10, 21-10 Aakarshi Kashyap: Kim Gaeun bounces back from an upset defeat in tie against Canada in some style. Defeats Aakarshi Kashyap 21-10, 21-10 and with that Korea clinch top spot in Group D. India will finish second.

Korea 2-0 India, Kim Gaeun 21-10, 14-7 Aakarshi Kashyap: A decent run of points for Aakarshi.

THOMAS CUP UPDATE: Lineup confirmed for Chinese Taipei vs India to decide Group C winners. Full strength side by India, who would love to clinch this tie and be seeded for the knockouts draw. Match starts at 12.30 pm IST.

Korea 2-0 India, Kim Gaeun 21-10, 11-2 Aakarshi Kashyap: One way traffic at the moment. Seven points in a row for the Korean heading into the interval.

Korea 2-0 India, Kim Gaeun 21-10 Aakarshi Kashyap: Korea’s Kim Gaeun breezes through the opening game 21-10 against Aakarshi Kashyap. Tough task for her and India got a whole lot tougher.

Korea 2-0 India, Kim Gaeun 18-8 Aakarshi Kashyap: Brilliant for Kim here. Just moving Aakarshi side to side at pace and it is not something the Indian is handling well.

Korea 2-0 India, Kim Gaeun 11-6 Aakarshi Kashyap: A couple of precise winners to Aakarshi’s backhand side and Kim has a handy lead at the interval.

Korea 2-0 India, Kim Gaeun 9-6 Aakarshi Kashyap: The Korean has started the match like she wants to make amends for yesterday and it shows. Aakarshi is doing enough to not let this slip away yet.

Korea 2-0 India: Can Aakarshi Kashyap keep India alive in this tie? Kim Gaeun lost against Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang yesterday. So she is certainly not unbeatable but Aakarshi must also be wary of the potential response from the world No 19

Korea 2-0 India, Lee-Shin 21-13, 21-12 Simran-Shruti: That can be safely filed under the best possible kind of experience for Simran Singhi and Shruti Mishra. The Indian pair did themselves no harm in the straight-games defeat against one of the best pairs in the world.

Korea 1-0 India, Lee-Shin 21-13, 11-7 Simran-Shruti: The Indians are continuing to work darn hard in this one, geeing themselves up with all their vocal might every time they win a rally. But, just like the point just before the interval, the Koreans find a way to win most rallies, even if it takes them 10 extra shots. Shruti slides down on the court and stays there a while wondering how to turn these good rallies into points.

Meanwhile on Court 1 a while earlier, arguably the biggest badminton upset of the year, rankings wise. (It is a tie where both teams are through to playoffs and Japan still have superb depth, so perhaps no real damage done but still, what a result! The young Indonesian Uber Cup team continue to make waves)

Korea 1-0 India, Lee-Shin 21-13 Simran-Shruti: A solid effort by the Indian pair it must be said, they kept battling hard throughout and didn’t make things easy for the Koreans. Consistency was an issue.

Korea 1-0 India, Lee-Shin 11-5 Simran-Shruti: A decent start from the Indians but the world No 2 go from 2-4 to 11-5. Relentless.

India 0-1 Korea: The way Sindhu started this match, thought she was poised to take a game from An Seyoung today. But when An is in the zone to find the lines at will with such precision, she is just hard to stop. Sindhu’s wait continues.

Time now for the doubles, and to say this is a lopsided matchup would be an understatement. World No 2 vs an unranked Indian combination. (This is the Korean pair that Treesa/Gayatri had beaten famously at All England).

Here’s how the two games panned out:

India 0-1 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 21-14 PV Sindhu: An Seyoung continues to confound PV Sindhu! This one had its moments for the Indian but overall, a straight-games win (again) for the Korean is not something you can’t argue against here. The last couple of times, Sindhu might have gotten closer but today An was reeling off streaks like she was in a zone. Tough to beat that.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 20-14 PV Sindhu: Seven match points and one is saved by Sindhu.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 19-13 PV Sindhu: Another genius winner from ASY, inside out this time.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 17-13 PV Sindhu: Sindhu not able to win more than a point in a row. But she is just about staying in this. The drops to ASY’s forehand side are working well.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 16-11 PV Sindhu: ASY has won 11 of 12 points now! Wow. Sindhu manages to get the serve back with a nice drop shot to set up a kill. And then gives the serve back after a good rally. Needed a run of points there.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 15-10 PV Sindhu: Oh dear, Sindhu loses her front-foot grip going for a lunge but recovers quickly enough. Lost the point but that could have been nasty. The courts have been a bit slippery all week. Soon enough, ASY into a lead that feels decisive at the moment.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 11-9 PV Sindhu: Dangling on the net chord and falling to the other side. The shuttle is Korean. Sindhu has used up both her challenges now and she is down a couple of points at the interval. She just seems frustrated again.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 9-9 PV Sindhu: Couple of shuttles that Sindhu has now let drop within the lines... and suddenly, An is on a roll. When she gets her radar right, she controls the shuttle with a string attached to it.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 6-9 PV Sindhu: Unlike the start to the opening game, this is a bit ordinary from both players at the moment. Not quite the high level we saw earlier, errors from both sides.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 3-8 PV Sindhu: Sindhu plays a nice patient rally to go 7-3 up. An then completely misjudges a lift to the backcourt. Oh wait, just missed it. That’s rare.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15, 2-5 PV Sindhu: It was really important for Sindhu to arrest An’s momentum at the start and she does that at the start of the 2nd game. Baby steps.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 21-15 PV Sindhu: An Seyoung, you ridiculous human! What a run of points from 13-15 down... EIGHT STRAIGHT... to take the game 21-15. Sindhu left frustrated towards the end, and that showed in her shot-making, but that run was purely built on the Korean’s impeccable precision after the interval.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 20-15 PV Sindhu: Almost an angry backhand punch clear from Sindhu, called long. She reviews to slow things down... but game points galore now.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 18-15 PV Sindhu: And now An Seyoung is on the charge! What a turnaround. Some precise smashes, finding the lines with utterly ridiculous quality.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 15-15 PV Sindhu: A 39-shot rally (longest so far) goes An’s way and then a forehand error from Sindhu... we are all level!

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 13-14 PV Sindhu: ASY closes the gap and then Sindhu pumps herself up after a lovely point. Another top quality flat rally follows, that goes the Korean’s way and the gap is narrowed down again. Then ASY makes it two superb winners in a row with a delightful crosscourt drop.

(Scores corrected)

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 9-12 PV Sindhu: ‘Jeetega bhai jeetega’ chants around the arena. A brilliant 23-shot rally! Great defence from Sindhu early on, then she sets up a lovely kill at the net with a drop shot.

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 7-11 PV Sindhu: Great pace in the rallies from Sindhu, and she dominates a series of points to go into the interval with a handy lead. Expect ASY to now slow things down in terms of the shot-making....

India 0-0 Korea, An Seyoung 4-5 PV Sindhu: Must have been one heck of a warm-up because both players have started off at a really good level right away in this one. Sindhu goes from 2-4 to 5-4, the latest of points a lovely crosscourt slice drop winner.

India vs Korea, Uber Cup Group D – PV Sindhu vs An Seyoung: Four matches, four straight games win for ASY. India will be delighted if that changes today. There has been a feeling that the Indian has been getting closer to find a way, she’d love for it to start today.

India vs Korea, Uber Cup Group D – PV Sindhu vs An Seyoung: The H2H, in case you were not aware, is a strong 4-0 in favour of the Korean. But Sindhu has been getting closer. Indeed, the Indian is yet to take a game off ASY. She’d love to change it around at some point, will today be the day?

A replug for our feature at the end of last season about the brilliant An Seyoung.

07.30 am: Winning the group means the team will be seeded for knockouts and will face one of the second-placed teams from the other groups.

07.25 am: Hello and welcome to live updates from day four of the Thomas and Uber Cup finals in Bangkok.

A spot in the knockouts assured, India will face Korea on Wednesday in their last group match. PV Sindhu and Co could potentially push for the top spot in the group which could be invaluable. But the Koreans will start heavy favourites. We begin proceedings with the big one: An Seyoung vs PV Sindhu.

Will it be fifth time lucky for the Indian star against the Korean star-in-the-making?

On Monday, the Indian men’s team also qualified for the knockout stage after ensuring their place in the top two in their group. Later today, they will face Chinese Taipei on Wednesday to decide the group toppers.

Screenshots in the blog courtesy Tournament Software / Viacom 18