The prestigious biennial tournament the Thomas & Uber Cup – the World Team Championships for Men’s and Women’s respectively are played simultaneously is back with the 2020 edition. The tournament is being played at Ceres Arena in Aarhus, Denmark from 9th – 17th October 2021. India is placed in Group B in the 2020 Uber Cup along with Thailand, Spain and Scotland.
However, PV Sindhu is not named in the 2020 Uber Cup squad released by the Badminton Association of India (BAI), as the shuttler citied recovery post-Olympics requested the association for the same. Meanwhile, Saina Nehwal is back after missing the 2021 Sudirman Cup.
There are 16 Teams divided into 4 groups consisting of 4 Teams Each. Only the top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals of the 2020 Uber Cup.
2020 Uber Cup – India vs Spain – Line-up
𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐔𝐏- 𝐔𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐔𝐏! 🔥🇮🇳
All the best, team! 🤜🤛#ThomasUberCup2020 #badminton pic.twitter.com/aFCD4eMnW3
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) October 10, 2021
The India vs Spain encounter was played in Court 1 of the Ceres Arena in Aarhus, Denmark.
Group B Encounter – India 3-2 Spain
1st Up was Women’s Singles where India’s Saina Nehwal makes her return played against Clara Azurmendi of Spain. Well, the 1st Game was a close one as the Spanish player made it tough for the Former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal. Clara Azurmendi ranked 58th won the 1st game 22-20 but Saina Nehwal then retired from the match. Thus, Spain leading by 0-1.
Next was the 2nd Women’s Singles, where 20-year-old Malvika Bansod levels it for India. The 104th Ranked Indian defeated Spain’s World No. 71 Beatriz Corrales in straight games 21-13, 21-15. The match lasted for about 35 Minutes. India 1-1 Spain.
Women’s Doubles was played next – with the pair of Tanisha Crasto/Rutaparna Panda representing India up against Spain’s Paula López/Lorena Uslé. The Indian attacking duo dominated from the very start showed the exact performance from their last game at the 2021 Sudirman Cup. Tanisha Crasto/Rutaparna Panda gave India the lead as they won in two straight games 21-10, 21-8 in under 30 Minutes. As a result, India 2-1 Spain.
The 3rd Women’s Singles was a battle between the youngsters as both 18-year-olds played against each other. India’s unranked Aditi Bhatt against Spain’s 307th ranked Ania Setién. The Indian won in two straight games 21-16, 21-14 in about 34 Minutes. Thus, India sealing the tie with a lead of 3-1.
However, India witnessed an upset in the last match of the tie where its experienced Women’s Double’s Pair of Ashwini Ponnappa/N. Sikki Reddy ranked 28th in the world lost to World No. 122 of Spain – Clara Azurmendi/Beatriz Corrales. As it went to a decider, India lost 18-21, 21-14, 17-21 read the final score. Both Clara Azurmendi/Beatriz Corrales earlier played singles in the tie. Hence, India 3-2 Spain.
As a result, India won its 1st Match of the 2020 Uber Cup 3-2 against Spain. Meanwhile, India will play its 1st Match of the 2020 Thomas Cup against the Netherlands, today at around 10:30 PM IST.
