Sudirman Cup Finals 2023, Group C, IND vs AUS blog: India finish campaign with 4-1 win

That will be all for the blog. Thanks for tunning into our Sudirman Cup coverage.

IND 4-1 AUS: And with that, India’s campaign in Suzhou comes to a close. Mixed doubles will finish as the biggest concern. Plenty of work to do elsewhere as well as the focus turns to Paris Olympic qualification from here.

IND 4-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 21-19, 21-13 Kaitlyn / Angela: And India finish their campaign with a 4-1 win against Australia. The mixed doubles win for Aussies was followed by four wins for India; smiles for Ashwini-Tanisha as they close this out.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 21-19, 19-11 Kaitlyn / Angela: And a couple of points away, the Indians. A nice rally follows that goes the Aussie way.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 21-19 15-9 Kaitlyn / Angela: Ashwini Ponnappa’s delicate touch at the net in the middle of Tanisha’s big-hits, a good combo to seal the point.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 21-19 11-8 Kaitlyn / Angela: Now the Indians starting to pull ahead.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 21-19 8-8 Kaitlyn / Angela: Neither pair running away with it here.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 21-19 Kaitlyn / Angela: Tanisha closes a rally that Ashwini did well to keep alive. Game point India and they convert it at the first time of asking.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 19-18 Kaitlyn / Angela: Tanisha with a couple of important winners in this phase as the Indians retake the lead.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 16-17 Kaitlyn / Angela: The Aussies are in the lead! Best rally of the match so far, a fabulous exchange that the youngsters actually dominated. 36 shots.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 16-14 Kaitlyn / Angela: The Aussie youngsters are troubling the Indians whenever they increase the pace, and go on the attack.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 11-8 Kaitlyn / Angela: The Indians are starting to inch ahead after an even start.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha / Ashwini 10-6 Kaitlyn / Angela: Terrific work from Ashwini to change directions and land a smash into an unreturnable corner.

IND 3-1 AUS, Tanisha Crasto / Ashwini Ponnappa vs Kaitlyn Ea / Angela Yu: The Indians are now regular pair on tour and this is another tie where they should have too much quality. Especially with the experience of Ashwini. The Aussies are a young duo, 19 an 20 years old.

IND 3-1 AUS: Solid as you’d expect from Arjun and Dhruv. Didn’t look back from 10-10 in the opening game. Time for Tanisha to come back for a 2nd match, WD with Ashwini.

IND 3-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 21-11, 21-12 Tang / Wang: And the tie is sealed by India. The women’s doubles will be played of course, but India get on board before their tournament ends. Solid from Dhruv-Arjun once they found their rhythm after a slow start.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 21-11, 16-9 Tang / Wang: And the finish line in sight for the Indian pair.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 21-11, 11-7 Tang / Wang: A good leave by Dhruv and the Indians have ah andy lead into the interval.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 21-11, 9-6 Tang / Wang: A lovely rally from all four players, with Arjun moving like he tends across the court superbly to close it out. The Indians are staying ahead.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 21-11 Tang / Wang: And just a solitary point from 10-10 for the Aussies. The Indians finish the game with a run of 11 points out of 12.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 17-10 Tang / Wang: All Indians after the interval.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 11-10 Tang / Wang: The Indians took their time to warm-up but are playing better now. Into the interval with a 1-point lead.

IND 2-1 AUS, Arjun / Dhruv 5-7 Tang / Wang: The Aussies have actually started better. Errors from the Indians so far, not closing out rallies.

IND 2-1 AUS, MR Arjun / Dhruv Kapila vs Ricky Tang / Rayne Wang: The Indians should be too strong in this one. The Australians are unranked as a pair.

IND 2-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 21-18 Tiffany Ho: Anupama makes a winning debut at a senior world team championships. The 18-year-old with a solid performance.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 20-17 Tiffany Ho: A lovely drop shot by the Indian for three match points.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 19-16 Tiffany Ho: Anupama with many more errors in this phase and the entire opening game but she is staying ahead.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 17-14 Tiffany Ho: Another longish rally, again goes Ho’s way. She is tiring but hanging in there.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 17-13 Tiffany Ho: A 30-shot rally that Anupama controlled for the most part but the error too comes from her in the end.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 16-11 Tiffany Ho: And Anupama picks up the pace again.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 11-11 Tiffany Ho: Anupama’s shots have lost some sting. Physically feeling it after a high intensity start?

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 11-8 Tiffany Ho: A good lead for Anupama into the 2nd game interval.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16, 7-5 Tiffany Ho: Fine contest this now. Tiffany has started where she ended game 1 and that has made the rallies close enough. Anupama in the lead but having to work really hard.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 21-16 Tiffany Ho: Five game points for Anupama. And she converts her second. The second game could be a better contest, one feels.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 19-15 Tiffany Ho: The rallies have extended in this phase and Tiffany’s got a handle on dealing with the pace now. She is still making errors but it’s a contest now.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 17-10 Tiffany Ho: Very few long rallies in this match actually. Ho wins the latest one, but the Indian’s rallying game strong as well. Her hand-speed quite impressive.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 11-6 Tiffany Ho: Steady stuff from Anupama so far. There have been a couple of long rallies but otherwise the Indian has dictated tempo.

IND 1-1 AUS, Anupama Upadhyaya 9-5 Tiffany Ho: Good start from the Indian

As Anupama Upadhyaya takes to the court in Sudirman Cup, worth reading this by @shahidthejudge from Pune at the Nationals earlier this year.

Badminton: Meet Anupama Upadhyaya, the former junior world No 1 and now senior national champion

IND 1-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 21-8, 21-8 Jack Yu: Symmetry in the scoreline. HS Prannoy finishes off the match 21-8, 21-8. A trademark backhand to close it out. Solid enough from the new world No 7.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 21-8, 18-6 Jack Yu: Prannoy is running away with it now. It was 6-8 at one point, but Prannoy has won 10 straight since.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 21-8, 11-6 Jack Yu: Prannoy takes a 5-point lead into the interval. Just a few more errors from the Indian here than in the first game.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 21-8, 8-6 Jack Yu: Good from the youngster here.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 21-8 Jack Yu: Prannoy made to work hard on that game point, a long rally but he stays solid and closes it out.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 17-7 Jack Yu: Prannoy being efficient with his work.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 11-4 Jack Yu: Prannoy with a good lead into the interval.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 9-4 Jack Yu: Good long rally. Goes Prannoy’s way. Meanwhile, a huge tie to start on Court 1.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 8-4 Jack Yu: Oh Jack has a mean smash for starters. Moving well too. Prannoy wins a point after a superb behind the back return.

IND 0-1 AUS, Prannoy HS 6-2 Jack Yu: On paper, this should be short and solid from Prannoy. But let’s see. The Indian has started strongly.

IND 0-1 AUS: Time for Prannoy HS vs Jack Yu. Prannoy starts today as world No 7, his best ranking. Jack Yu is world No 263.

IND 0-1 AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 18-21 Kenneth / Gronya: Fittingly, the match ends on an error from the Indian side, Sai sends the shuttle long. Ordinary stuff from the Indians, to be honest. Just not good enough.

IND 0-0 AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 18-20 Kenneth / Gronya: Couple of match points saved by the Indians.

IND 0-0 AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 16-20 Kenneth / Gronya: Match points AUS. Superb body smash from Choo.

IND 0-0 AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 16-19 Kenneth / Gronya: Good reflex from Tanisha to get the serve back. Now or never.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 14-19 Kenneth / Gronya: Superb from Kenneth, and the Aussies are two away.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 13-18 Kenneth / Gronya: surprise, there’s another error from Sai, netting a seemingly simple shot.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 12-15 Kenneth / Gronya: Tanisha with an error at the net to lose a point they controlled otherwise.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 11-14 Kenneth / Gronya: The Australians are making a decisive move towards the finish line... oh dear, a nasty fall for Kenneth as we say that. He is on the court and slow to get up. But seems OK to carry on after some magic spray.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 9-12 Kenneth / Gronya: Wonderful rally from the Aussies right out of the interval and they seem much more keen to take this.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 9-11 Kenneth / Gronya: Wonder if Sai Pratheek is injured or something because otherwise, this is quite ordinary. Has been slow, has missed shots repeatedly. Sai / Tanisha trail at the final change of ends. And honestly doesn’t look good for them.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 7-9 Kenneth / Gronya: More errors, this time Tanisha at the net. And she looks flustered.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21, 7-7 Kenneth / Gronya: More errors from the Indian side of the net, lost count of the no of times Sai has hit the net from backcourt.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-21 Kenneth / Gronya: Not a clean sheet for India against Australia, for starters. And the first game won by Australia this week in Suzhou too. Gronya has again been superb, but just far too many errors from Tanisha / Sai.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-20 Kenneth / Gronya: Game points galore for the Australians.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 13-17 Kenneth / Gronya: Impressive review by the Indians to correct a call with the shuttle landing on the line. They close the gap down again but make another error.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 11-14 Kenneth / Gronya: Points on the trot for the Indians now, four straight.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 7-14 Kenneth / Gronya: Scoreboard pressure forcing more errors from the Indians, big lead for the Aussies now.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 7-11 Kenneth / Gronya: Nice handy lead for the Aussies heading into the 2nd game interval.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 5-8 Kenneth / Gronya: Nice defence from Sai but Kenneth’s pressure pays off. The Aussies certainly playing much better in this game so far.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 4-6 Kenneth / Gronya: Couple of good points from Tanisha at the net to close the gap down.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17, 1-4 Kenneth / Gronya: Nice start to the 2nd game for the Aussies.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 21-17 Kenneth / Gronya: The Indians take the lead but made to work hard by the experience of Gronya mainly, who has been great at the net.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 20-17 Kenneth / Gronya: Three game points for the Indians.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 18-15 Kenneth / Gronya: The Indians manage to pull ahead every time the Aussie pair closes in. The gap was down to 1 there.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 14-12 Kenneth / Gronya: The Aussies are not letting the Indians get away with this. Also worth keeping an eye on Tanisha’s movement. She seems to have a little issue with her foot. Has to play twice today, mind you.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 11-9 Kenneth / Gronya: The Aussie star in this squad is Gronya and she is showing her class at the net every now and then. The Indians do take a lead into the interval.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 8-7 Kenneth / Gronya: Three errors on the trot from the Indians as I said that.

IND vs AUS, Sai / Tanisha 7-3 Kenneth / Gronya: The new Indian pairing of Tanisha and Sai had a match point against TPE in the opener on Sunday, feels a long time back. They have started well here, in control.

IND vs AUS, K Sai Pratheek /Tanisha Crasto vs Kenneth Zhe Hooi Choo / Gronya Somerville: The mixed doubles pairing from Australia is known for their gritty performances in team events. Gronya has been around for a while and is a solid doubles player. Sai / Tanisha are ranked lower because they are a new pairing, but should be favourites still you’d imagine.

Here’s the lineup for IND-AUS:

IND vs AUS: Here’s how the group stands before the final matches. Chinese Taipei and Malaysia are in action on Court 1 for the important tie to decide toppers.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Indian badminton from the Sudirman Cup Finals.

It has been a less than ideal week for Indian badminton in Suzhou. On the one-year anniversary of the Thomas Cup win, this has come as a reality check of sorts. From the two matches against Chinese Taipei and Malaysia, India managed just one win out of 10, coming from the pair of Treesa-Gayatri against the former.

Today, India and Australia take on each other with nothing left but points and position in the group to play for.

Indian squad for Sudirman Cup Finals:

Men’s singles: HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth (Reserve: Lakshya Sen)

Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Anupama Upadhyaya (Reserve: Aakarshi Kashyap)

Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila

Women’s doubles: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly, Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto

Mixed doubles: Tanisha Crasto/Sai Pratheek

Screenshots in the blog via BWF TV / Tournament Software / Viacom18