Shah Alam (Malaysia), Feb 15: India had a dismal start in the Badminton Asia Team Championships on Tuesday as they lost 0-5 to South Korea here at the Setia City Convention Centre. India suffered a loss in all five matches including three singles and two doubles. In the first match, world championships bronze medallist and India Open men’s singles champion Lakshya Sen suffered a 11-21, 19-21 straight sets defeat at the hands Jeon Hyeok.
Kiran George lost 18-21, 14-21 to Joo Wan Kim. Min Sun Jeong defeated Mithun Manjunath 16-21, 27-25, 14-21 in a three-setter. In the doubles, P S Ravi Krishna and Shankar Prasad lost 8-21, 10-21 to Hwi Tae Kim and Kim Jaehan. Yong Jin and Na Sung Seung defeated Dingku Singh Konthoujam and Manjit Singh Khwairakpam 7-21, 15-21. The India women’s team led by Malvika Bansod will begin their campaign against Malaysia on February 16. The top two teams from each group in men and women team events will advance to the semifinals and will directly qualify for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals starting from May 8 in Thailand.
