India qualify for quarterfinals despite going down 0-5 to England

Melbourne, Mar 18 (UNI) After their successive wins against two lowly teams, Indian shuttlers were cut to size by England who made 5-0 clean sweep in the last league match of the Badminton teams competition in the Commonwealth Games here today.

Despite the loss, India, by virtue of finishing second in the Pool D behind England, qualified for the last eight. The remaining six teams to qualify for the quartefinals are Malaysia and Sri lanka from pool A, New Zealand and Australia from Pool B and Singapore and Canada from Pool C.

India face formidable Singapore in the quarterfinals to be played on knock out basis.

Though England were tipped to win, much was expected from Chetan Anand, ranked 21 in the world. However, Chetan surprisingly lost to Aamir Ghaffar and then Olympian Aparna Popat also went down fighting to Tracey Hallem. In the doubles, England just smashed their way to victory.

Results: Chetan Anand lost to Aamir Ghaffar 19-21, 21-17, 17-21; Aparna Popat lost to Tracey Hallam 21-13, 16-21, 17-21; Jwala Gutta/ Shruti Kurain lost to Gail Emms/ Donna Kellog 12-21, 16-21, Rupesh Kumar/ S Thomas lost to Anthony Clark/ Robert Blair 21-16, 21-17; V Diju/Jwala Gutta (mixed doubles) lost to Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms 15-21,10-21.

UNI HSB DH ND1806