P.V. Sindhu’s win was the only bright spot on a dismal day as India suffered a 1-4 loss to Denmark in its opening match of the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championship here on Monday.
Up against the two-time runner-up, India came a cropper after it lost the first three ties — mixed doubles, men’s singles and men’s doubles in the five-match rubber.
Starting the proceedings, the experienced Ashwini Ponnappa and young Satwiksairaj Rankireddy displayed good fighting spirit before going down 21-15, 16-21, 21-17 to London Olympics bronze medallist combo of Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in a mixed doubles match.
A lot was expected from World No. 13 Ajay Jayaram after his recent success against Viktor Axelsen at the Malaysia Open but the Indian shuttler capitulated 21-12, 21-7 in just 27 minutes.
In men’s doubles, Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy crossed swords with former Olympic silver medallists Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen. After 33 minutes, it was the Danish pair which emerged victorious 21-17, 21-15.
Olympic silver medallist Sindhu then saved India some embarrassment with a 21-18, 21-6 win over Line Kjaersfeldt in a 32-minute women’s singles match.
In the fifth match, Ashwini and N. Sikki Reddy fought hard before losing 18-21, 21-15, 23-21 to Olympic silver medallist Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen as Denmark wrapped up the contest 4-1.
India next faces former champion Indonesia on Wednesday.
The results: Group 1: Denmark bt India 4-1 [Joachim Fischer Nielsen & Christinna Pedersen bt Ashwini Ponnappa & Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 21-15, 16-21, 21-17; Viktor Axelsen bt Ajay Jayaram 21-12, 21-7; Mathias Boe & Carsten Mogensen bt Manu Attri & B. Sumeeth Reddy 21-17, 21-15; Line Kjaersfeldt lost to P.V. Sindhu 21-18, 21-6; Kamilla Rytter Juhl & Christinna Pedersen 18-21, 21-15, 23-21].
Chinese Taipei bt Russia 4-1; Thailand bt Hong Kong 3-2
Group 2: Australia bt USA 4-1; Singapore bt Austria 5-0.
Group 3: Macau bt Guam 5-0; Sri Lanka bt Tahiti 5-0; Slovakia bt Fiji 5-0 .
