Jakarta: It promises to be an exciting affair as India clash with Japan in the quarterfinals of the women's badminton team event of the Asian Games here on Monday.
The tie will see four top-10 singles players: the Indian pair of P V Sindhu (No. 3) and Saina Nehwal (No.10) as well as the Japanese comprising world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi and the eight-ranked Nozomi Okuhara.
However, it is the lack of depth in doubles which will worry the Indian camp going into the game. Reigning Uber Cup champions Japan have a clear advantage in doubles as the duo of Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota and Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi are ranked No. 1 and 2 in the world. Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy should be able to put up a good fight, but the lack of a second specialist doubles pair puts enormous pressure on Sindhu and Saina. The decision to overlook the doubles pair of Aparna Balan and Sruthi K P and instead pick national coach P Gopichand's daughter Gayatri and Aakarshi Kashyap had received a fair bit of criticism.
Comforting factor
The good thing for India is that Sindhu had beaten both Okuhara and Yamaguchi en route to her runner-up finish at the recent World Championships in Nanjing, China. Both Saina and Sindhu will have to win their respective singles and then hope that India will be able to score one more win.
Gopichand may be tempted to play Sindhu and Saina in the second doubles ahead of Rituparna Panda and Arathi Sara Sunil depending on the singles results.
Sindhu had missed the Uber Cup clash in Bangkok in which Japan thrashed India 5-0. This time around, the tie should be a much closer affair. The Indian women had picked up a bronze in the last edition of the Asian Games at Incheon. A win will ensure India at least a bronze here, but it is easier said than done.
The match begins at 7.30 am IST.
