Japan break Indian hearts as Sindhu, Unnati and Tanvi lose in Asian Games Q-F

India's PV Sindhu (ANI Photo)

India's women's badminton team bowed out of the Asian Games after Japan secured a 3-1 victory in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, with the singles players unable to match the impact of the country's World Championships bronze-winning doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.India were handed a difficult start when two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu took on world No.3 Akane Yamaguchi in the opening singles. Sindhu fought hard and took the first game 23-21, but Yamaguchi gradually took control of the contest to win the next two games 21-18, 21-6.

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Sindhu fights back before Yamaguchi takes control

Sindhu trailed 13-17 in the opening game but produced a strong recovery to move ahead. The contest featured several long rallies, with exchanges often stretching to 35-36 shots.The Indian had a game point but a wrong judgement on a back-line call gave Yamaguchi an opportunity to stay in contention. Sindhu earned another game point after Yamaguchi found the net and then finished the game with a cross-court forehand winner.Yamaguchi responded after the change of ends, establishing a two-point advantage at the mid-game interval. Sindhu again attempted to fight back after falling 12-17 behind, but the Japanese shuttler held firm to take the second game 21-18.

The deciding game proved one-sided. Yamaguchi opened up a 14-6 lead and went on to earn 10 match points before sealing victory with a precise return.

Miyazaki puts Japan in command

India needed Unnati Hooda to level the tie, but the youngster was unable to overcome 2022 world junior champion and current world No.7 Tomoka Miyazaki.Miyazaki controlled the contest to secure a 21-16, 21-18 victory, leaving Japan just one win away from the semifinals and putting India 0-2 behind.

Treesa-Gayatri keep India alive

India's World Championships bronze-winning duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand then delivered when the team needed them most.Fresh from winning their maiden World Championships bronze in New Delhi, Treesa and Gayatri defeated Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16 in the first doubles match.

The victory reduced the deficit to 1-2 and briefly kept India's hopes of completing a comeback alive.

Okuhara seals Japan's place in semis

The decisive match, however, went Japan's way.Young Indian shuttler Tanvi Sharma faced former world champion Nozomi Okuhara but could not find a response to her opponent's game. Okuhara won 21-12, 21-10 to give Japan an unassailable 3-1 lead.The result brought India's women's badminton team campaign at the Asian Games to an end, despite the strong showing from Treesa and Gayatri and Sindhu's spirited opening-game fight against Yamaguchi.