Badminton Asia Team C’ships, Women’s final, as it happened: India crowned champions with 3-2 win

That’s all the action we have from the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships. Thank you for joining in to our coverage. See you next time!

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 3-2 Thailand: A historic end to the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships campaign for India with a first-ever gold medal. It was the men’s team from the country, who were considered favourties for a podium finish, but at the end it is the women’s team, who come out victorious.

The Indians were certainly the underdogs heading into the continental competition, but almost each player in the team stepped up when it mattered to play a vital role in the triumph. While the talks were around PV Sindhu’s return an three and a half month long injury lay-off, it is the young Anmol Kharb, who set the stage on fire in Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Ashmita Chaliha gave a good glimpse of herself as did the women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto were unlucky to miss out on the final with an injury, but they more than made up for it with their vocal presence at the sidelines.

All in all a fairytale for India!

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 3-2 Thailand: Anmol Kharb converts the second match point. She runs to the coach Pullela Gopichand before being mobbed by her teammates.

She soon realises she needs to shake hands with her opponent and the chair umpire and goes back to complete the formalities.

INDIA ARE THE BADMINTON ASIA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS WINNNERS!

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: 12 match points for Anmol Kharb with a bit of luck at the net. The Indian leads 20-8. ON THE VERGE OF HISTORY…

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Choeikeewong has completely lost the plot now. The Indian leads 18-7. Just three points away.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Anmol Kharb challenges but the chair umpire strikes it down. The reason: it was a delayed challenge.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: A beautiful drop from Anmol Kharb and the lead is now ten points at 16-6. Inching closer and closer.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Choeikeewong hits the net as Anmol Kharb extends her lead to eight points at 14-6. Just seven points away now, are India.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Choeikeewong challenges yet again, this time for a shot called wrong. She is proven wrong this time and the point stays with Anmol. The Indian takes the next point as well and leads 11-5 at the mid-game interval.

A first-ever gold medal at the Badminton Asia Team Championships is looks ever so close for India. Can Kharb hold her nerves?

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Smart work from Anmol Kharb as she draws Choeikeewong to the net before pushing one flat towards the deep end. She leads 7-5.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Choeikeewong challenges a shot called wide and is proven right. That was just on the line. She keeps her challenge but the Indian leads 5-4.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Errors continue to flow for Choeikeewong as Khrab keeps drawing her into hitting wide shots. The Indian leads 4-2 in the second game.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: All she needs is one out of those six to win the first game does Anmol Kharb. Choeikeewong hits one wide to the Indian’s backhand side and Kharb takes the opening game 21-14.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Six game points for Anmol Kharb as she outfoxes Choeikeewong at the net.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: PV Sindhu leading the chants of “Lets go India…let’s go” from the Indian dugout now. Her teammates doing everything they can to keep Kharb motivated.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Anmol Kharb senses she has the first game within a touching distance. A four-point lead for the Indian at 17-13.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Anmol on the charge now. She opens up a three-point lead for the first time at 14-11. She has won three off the last four points.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: A lot of unforced errors in that passage of play from both players but it is Anmol Kharb, who enjoys a slender 11-10 lead at the mid-game interval. Nothing much to separate the two players though with both matching each other shot for shot and error for error.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Anmol Kharb wins four points in a row to open up a 7-6 lead, but Choeikeewong levels up straightaway with a well placed smash to the former’s backhand side.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: A few errors from the 17-year-old Indian and Choeikeewong has opened up a 6-3 lead. The Indian dugout, though, remains as optimistic as ever.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: An early challenge from Choeikeewong and she is proven wrong. Anmol Kharb leads 2-0.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: Anmol Kharb is ranked 472 in the world, while Pornchipa Choeikeewong is placed 45th. But Kharb is unbeaten in the tournament and took down Japan’s world No 29 Nidaira in the semi-finals to take India to the final. First meeting between the two players and the Indian will recieve first.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-2 Thailand: 29 minutes is all it takes for Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard to put Thailand level on terms with India. Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra won just 20 points combined in the first and second games. The Thai pair wins 21-11, 21-9.

We will have a decider between Anmol Kharb and Pornchipa Choeikeewong to decide the women’s champion at 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: The Thai pair extend their lead to seven points at 16-9 in the second game. Just a matter of time before they wrap this up. Can Shruti-Priya find a moment of inspiration to mount a comeback?

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard are showing why they are one of the top-ranked pairs in the world. The Indian national champions are hardly any threat for them as they lead 11-6 at the second mid-game interval.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Benyapa and Nuntakarn open up an early three-point lead at 5-3 in the second game. A straight games win for the Thai pair looks inevitable at the moment.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Nine game points for the Aimsaard sisters as they win six points in a row. They convert the very first point to win the first game 21-11 within the blink of an eye.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Priya-Shruti unwilling to give up and are happy to grind. A few long rallies with a couple of points in their favour, but they still trail 11-14.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: The joy does not stay for long as Benyapa and Nuntakarn win five points in a row to open up an 11-8 lead at the mid-game interval.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Priya-Shruti have held their own pretty well so far in the contest. They lead 8-6 after the early exchanges.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: A good start for the Indian pair as they open up a 3-1 lead. Priya and Shruti are pumped up.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, ranked 107 in the world, will make their first appearance in the tournament against world No 13 Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard. First meeting between the two pairs and the Indians will serve first.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-1 Thailand: Busanan Ongbamrungphan with a well placed shot towards Chaliha’s back hand side. The Indian fails to reach it. The first match point is converted. The world No 18 has pulled Thailand back. India suffer their first loss of the match as Chaliha goes down 21-11, 21-15 in just 35 minutes.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Six match points for Busanan as she wins six points in a row to break away from 14-14 and now leads 20-14. Ashmita is stunned.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Multiple unforced errors from Ashmita Chaliha and Busanan has opened up a four-point lead at 18-14. This is slipping away rather quickly from the Indian.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: The neck and neck battle continues as a badly judged leave from Ashmita at the backline sees her trailing 13-14. Exchange of points for now with no clear better player. The second game is heating up nicely.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Ashmita Chaliha finds the net with her shot and it is Busanan Ongbamrungpham, who heads into the mid-game interval with a slender 11-10 advantage. The Indian has done much better this time around, but needs to cut down on her unforced errors to force a decider. An animated chat with coach Gopichand for now.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: The lead doesn’t stay for long as Busanan equalises at 5-5, before edging ahead at 7-6.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Much better from Ashmita Chaliha as she finds some good angles to open up a 3-1 lead.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: And that’s that. Busanan Ongbamrungphan takes the opening game 21-11 without breaking a sweat. Ashmita Chahila has a mountain to climb now.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: All too easy for Busanan at the moment as Chaliha looks far from her best. The Thai leads 16-8 and the result of the first game looks a foregone conclusion.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Chaliha manages to add a few more points to her tally, but Busanan has a comfortable five-point advantage at 11-6. It has been one way traffic so far in favour of the Thai.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Ashmita Chaliha’s struggles continue as Busanan leads 9-3 now. The Indian loses a challenge as well for reviewing a shot called long.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Busanan with the better start off the two as she opens up a 4-1 lead. Chaliha yet to find her rhythm.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Ashmita Chaliha is out in the middle for the second women’s singles tie against Busanan Ongbamrungphan. The Thai is ranked 18th in the world compared to the Indian’s 53rd spot, but Chaliha leads the head to head encounters 1-0. The Indian will recieve first.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 2-0 Thailand: Jongkolphan and Rawinda save the first match point, but the Indians convert the very next. Treesa Jolly rushes to the net, intercepts the shuttle with a leap and lands it perfectly on the middle of the court. Treesa-Gayatri win 21-16, 18-21, 21-16 in 73 minutes.

India have taken a 2-0 lead and are just a tie win away from a historic gold medal!

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Five match points for Treesa-Gayatri as unforced errors mount from the Thai pair. The Indians lead 20-15.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: The Indians are turning up the heat. The Thai pair wants a shuttle change, but Treesa-Gayatri deny. The umpires agree to that as well. A three-point advantage at 18-15 for Treesa-Gayatri.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Jongkolphan lift goes long and Treesa-Gayatri have taken the lead. They have a one-point advantage at 15-14. All about the nerves now.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Treesa-Gayatri’s shot called wide and they challenge immediately. That was indeed well out of bounds. The Indians trail 12-14.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Now an error in judgement at the backline from Treesa Jolly as Jongkolphan-Rawinda lead 13-11. They can’t afford to give away such points do the Indians.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Two points in a row post the change of sides for the Indians, but Gayatri errors at the net to release the pressure. Treesa-Gayatri trails 10-12.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: They pull back a couple of points do Treesa and Gayatri, but Jongkolphan-Rawinda have a comfortable three-point advantage at 11-8 before the change of ends in the decider.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Multiple unforced errors from Treesa-Gayatri as they go from being level at 6-6 to trail 6-10. Worrying signs for India.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: A tad bit of miscommunication between Treesa-Gayatri as they both go for the same shuttle deep in the backhand corner. But, thankfully they recover and win the point to equalise 3-3.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Not the best of starts in the decider for the Indian pairs as early unforced errors has them trailing 1-3.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Jongkolphan rushes to the net and pushes one straight onto Treesa Jolly. No way the Indian could have returned that. Jongkolphan-Rawinda take the second game 21-18. We will head into a decider for the first time in a Treesa-Gayatri vs Jongkolphan-Rawinda contest.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Four game points for Thailand and they go long. Jongkolphan challenges and is proven wrong. The Indians have pulled one back to trail 17-20.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Jongkolphan and Rawinda hit back with three points in a row, with the net favouring them twice. They lead 19-16 and Treesa-Gayatri look dejected. “Aayega, aayega” shouts from the Indian sidelines.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Treesa-Gayatri equalise. Four points in a row for the Indians and they are now level at 16-16. Chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” gathers steam from the Indian dugout.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Gayatri returns the attacking favour now as the Indians try to fightback and reduce their deficit to three points at 12-15.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: The Thai pair on a roll now. Jongkolphan does all the hardwork to keep them in a rally, before Rawinda closes it off with a slew off attacking shots on Gayatri’s body. The Thai pair have extended their lead to five points at 15-10.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Jongkolphan and Rawinda edge ahead to lead 11-9 at the mid-game interval. Can Treesa-Gayatri overcome the two-point deficit for a straight games win? Remember, none of the previous five contests between these two pairs have gone to a decider.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: A five-point run for India brought to a halt as Treesa Jolly hits a shot into the net. The Indians lead 7-6.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Jongkolphan and Rawinda raced to a 3-0 lead, but Treesa-Gayatri have fought back to equalise 5-5 before edging ahead at 6-5.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: An early challenge in the second game from Thailand for a shot called long and they are proven right. The hawkeye is working now and the first successful challenge of the day falls in the favour of Jongkolphan and Rawinda. The Thai pair leads 1-0 in the second game.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: And they need only one to convert. Jongkolphan finds the net and Treesa Jolly lets out a roar. The Indian pair pockets the opening game 21-16.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Four game points for Treesa-Jolly as they lead 20-16 following a wide shot from Rawinda.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: A Thai shot called in and the Indian pair challenges. The chair umpires strikes it down. “You were influenced by your coach to challenge,” states the umpire.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Treesa Jolly with yet another wonderfully placed shot. A long rally where Treesa-Gayatri combine well to stay alive, before the former with a beautiful deception. Tactical awareness of the opponent’s position from the Indian as they lead 18-13 now.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: The Thai pair wins three points in a row for a mini fightback, but Treesa Jolly cuts it short with her attack from back of the court. Jongkolphan fails to return a smash as India extend their lead to 16-11.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Six points in a row on either side of the break for Treesa-Gayatri and they seem to have taken control of the tie now. The Indians lead 14-8.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Treesa-Gayatri edge ahead at the mid-game interval to lead 11-8. The two pairs have been evenly matched so far and there are some early signs of this developing into a thriller.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: A very close start to the women’s doubles tie with both pairs level on 7-7. The Indians had the lead for a while, but Rawinda’s attacks have proven to be deadly.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Three points in a row for Treesa-Gayatri, as the former finds an almost non-existent gap to lead 4-3.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: The Indians win the first point of the tie, but Jongkolphan-Rawinda have edged ahead to lead 3-1. A slow start from Treesa-Gayatri.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: It is time for the first women’s doubles tie and India’s Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand will take on a higher-ranked Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongai. The Indians trail 1-4 in five head to head contests, but they emerged as the winners in their last meeting at the prestigious All England Open last year. Gayatri will serve first.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India 1-0 Thailand: Supanida Katethong hits it wide, once again. PV Sindhu converts the second match point. India ease to an early lead with a 21-12, 21-12 win for the double Olympic medallist in just 39 minutes.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Nine match points for PV Sindhu at 20-11. How quickly can she wrap it up?

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A slew of points for Supanida Katethong but it surely is too little too late. Sindhu leads 19-10. Or is it? The Indians have been guilty of conceding points from the 19-point mark quite a few times this tournament.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Katethong is just crumbling under pressure. Sindhu just keeping the shuttle in play and is drawing errors from her opponent rather easily. Seven points in a row for the Indian as he enjoys a 12-point lead at 18-6.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Sindhu is just outplaying Supanida Katethong now. A beautifully placed shot in the gap opponent’s forehand side. Katethong stretches, but fails to return. Sindhu up 13-6.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A Katethong shot called in, but Sindhu goes up immediately with a challenge. But the hawkeye is not working. Some technical glitch and the on-court call stands. PV Sindhu is not impressed. A bit of an argument with the chair umpire as well as a technical official there. Sindhu leads 11-6.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A massive six-point advantage for PV Sindhu as unforced errors continue to flow from Katethong’s racquet. The Indian leads 11-5 at the mid-game interval and should be able to win this in straight games. The left-handed Thai needs a moment of inspiration to put Sindhu under pressure.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A run of eight points in a row for PV Sindhu, finally brought to a halt. An error in judgement at the backline from the Indian as Katethong lifts one from the net. Sindhu leads 8-2.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Katethong starts well with a 2-0 lead, but Sindhu has edged ahead. A powerful smash to open her account from the Indian before winning a long rally, where she was stretched to every corner of the court. Sindhu has won four points in a row and leads 4-2 now.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Nine game point opportunities for PV Sindhu as Katethong finds the net to trail 11-20. The Indian goes wide at the first point, but wraps up the first game 21-12 as the Thai shuttler finds the net once again. That was extremly comfortable for the Sindhu – exactly the start India were hoping for.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Sindhu cuts short that run of points of Katethong and extends her lead. The Indian is controlling the pace of the match and leads 16-9. Just a matter of time before she pockets the first game, it seems.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A mini fightback from Katethong as she reduces the deficit to four points, winning four of the five points post the interval. Sindhu still leads 12-8.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A very comfortable passage of play for Sindhu as she heads into the break with an 11-4 lead. She has pushed Katethong to all corners of the court and the drift from behind her hasn’t been kind to the Thai shuttler either. India would not complain though.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Sindhu in complete control as unforced errors mount from Katethong. The Indian leads 8-2 in the opening game. Chants of “come on Sindhu didi,” from the Indian dugout.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: A good start for India and PV Sindhu as she races to a 4-0 lead with the drift to her advantage. Sindhu looking confident and is moving well. Still early days.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: PV Sindhu and Supanida Katethong are out on the court. The Indian leads 4-3 in head to head contests against the world No 17. The last meeting between these two players ended with Sindhu withdrawing midway in a Round of 16 match at the 2023 French Open with an injury in October. The former world champion marked her return after rehabilitation only this tournament. The warmups are done. Sindhu will receive first.

Asia Team C’ships, Women’s Final, India vs Thailand: Led by the double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, the Indian women’s team have a shot at history on Sunday in Shah Alam, Malaysia. They can become only the first team from the country to win a Badminton Asia Team Championships gold.

After experimenting with PV Sindhu and Ashwini Ponnappa in the second women’s doubles in the semi-final on Saturday, India have today decided to hand debuts to the pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra. The remainder of the lineup remains the same with Sindhu playing the first singles, followed by Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand in first doubles. Ashmita Chaliha and the young Anmol Kharb will play the remaining two singles.

Hello and welcome to Scroll’s coverage of Indian badminton.

For the first time in the history of the Badminton Asia Team Championships, the Indian women’s team have reached the final. And they beat the mighty China and top seeds Japan to get to this stage, booking a spot against Thailand for the gold medal match.

The tournament marked the return PV Sindhu, who makes a comeback after an injury layoff. The return has been fruitful, but the youngsters in the team have stepped up as well.

In the semi-final, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand brought India back into the tie after Sindhu lost the opening match. Then Ashmita Chaliha beat former world champion Nozomi Okuhara before 17-year-old Anmol Kharb – in her first senior team outing – completed the triumph.

Can they continue this solid run of form? Stay tuned!

Screenshots courtesy Astro Supersport and Tournament Software