India finish 8th in World Jr badminton team event

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) Saina Nehwal went down without much fight as India lost to Thailand 1-3 and finished eighth in the team event of the World Junior Badminton Championship at Incheon, Korea.

India began on a wrong note with RMV Gurusai Datt losing to Pakkawat Vilailak 19-21, 21-23 and Saina compounded the woes with a 15-21, 18-21 lost to Chanida Julrattanamanee in a 25-minute duel.

Girls double pair of Nitya Sosale and Ashwini Ponappa tried to come back into the reckoning but lost in three sets 11-21, 22-20, 12-21 against Porntip Buranaprasertsuk and Kittitharakul Ancheera in 32 minutes.

Mixed double pair Ashwini Ponappa and Tarun scored a consolation win against Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk and Kittitharakul Ancheera 21-11, 21-14 in just 17 minutes.

Meanwhile, Korea won the team event beating China 3-2 while Malaysia secured third beating Indonesia 3-1. Japan beat Singapore 3-2 for fifth place.

The individual events of the championship will begin from tomorrow and the finals will be played on November 11.

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