The Indian pair of Jwala Gutta-Ponappa beat higher ranked Japanese pair in three sets of the women’s doubles at the BWF World Championship played at Jakarta just few moments ago. The Indian pair did a great job and played some excellent badminton to win the match.
Indian pair was playing well right from the beginning taking quick lead of 3-0. Kaikwa and Maeda came back to equal the score at 5 all. Again Indian pair surged ahead to take a lead of 10-6 with good placement by Jwala Gutta. India served and moved to 8 before the service was broken and the duo got their 11th point and went into break at 11-8. Ashwini’s powerful shot took them to 14-9. The Japanese could not hold their service followed by similar thing happened with Indian pair as they also lost their service. Japan pair earned 3 points in a row to bridge the gap to only 2 point. Then Indian pair was going great guns both in shots and placements to over to 18-13. Hardly one point Indians got back the service and moved to 20-14. But next shot by Ashwini went wide. The Japanese lost the last point as the the service fell into the same side court instead of cross court. The Indians won the game at 21-15 showing their dominance throughout.
Jwala starting the service lost the first point as the return from of Japanese pair was hit put. They also last second point before the Japanese player hit out. Ashwini’s service was put into net by Jwala. It was Japanese turn put the shuttle in net twice. Ashwini lost her serve by putting on wrong court. Kaka & Mae surged forwards to points before Indians broke the service and moved to 5 points. Japanese duo could not use the opportunity, and similar thing happened with Indians as Jwala mis-judged the base line shot and left. At the end of the quick and fast rally Jwala put the shuttle in net, but with few good rallies Japanese lead 11-8 at half time. Falter the resumption Jwalas service was hit out but the next rally ended in Ashwini puttingin net. Jwala’s super shot and Ashwini’s placement took them to 12-12 . Next 4 points by Japanese with demonstration of great aggression. Indina pair broke the service bymJwalas great shot, but inconsistency by Jwala defense took Japanese to point 17. Then Indian took 2 points and Jalnese got back service following a great finishing shot. Indian got the ext and their 16th point but Japanese progressed to 19, the to 20 with aggression. Next point came to India as Japanese hit went out of base line, followed by another wide stroke. Finally Japanese won the second game 21-18; a good recovery and show of powerful game.
Deciding game started with Japanese serving to Jwala, on the line placement by Ashwini won the first point. For the next shot by Japanese Ashwini was helpless. The next shot by Japanese went out getting India their 2 point lead, which later was equalled by Japanese and Indian surge ahead again but equalled by Japanese very next serve. Ashwini’s good placement followed by powerful shot the fourth in series earned India their fifth point. A super rally ended Japanese hitting in net to take India to 6-4. The next point was taken by Japanese and an error by Ashwini equaled the score at 6. Ashwini’s shot in a lovely return took them to lead but the joy was short lived as Japanese equalled at 7. Next 2 efforts of Japanese landed on net giving Indian a lead of 2 points and Japanese earned a point through placement close to net. Japanese pair came back strong to equal again at 10-10. India took a slender lead of one point at half time. Ashwini serving after the interval served short of white line. Next shot of Japanese went out, Both teams egoing neck to neck to 13-13. A lovely rally between Ashwini and back player was interrupted by a quick placement at net by Jwala and Japanese earned next point to make it 14 all. Indian review failed and Japanese went ahead but Indians equalled at 16 all. India took 17th point first and earned the 18th point also as the Japaense hit out and next point through as the Japanese into net. Then Japanse earned their 17th and 18th point as Indians hit out. India earned their 20th point first and won the next point also after giving one point as the Japanese Kaka hit out.
With this win Indian pair moves into the quarter finals.