LKY (vs Rajiv Ouseph) had the same problem Ryan Ng (vs Ngyuen Tien Minh) had during the Sudirman Cup -- got excited/celebrated too early against opponents known for their patient play and consistency... You can smash/rush your way through 11-point games, but at 21-points you have to pace yourself and be prepared for the ebb and flow in the players' momentum and energy...
As expected, after the gruelling XD match, Terry Hee (SGP) went a little off the boil in his MD -- while Marcus Ellis (ENG) was hungrier and better supported by Chris Langridge (ENG)... who can defend and cover the net even better than Danny Chrisnanta (SGP). But overall, a very entertaining 3-0 tie (ENG-SGP) that went 3-games in all three matches with lots of good "fight-backs"!
Tell you what was surprised (a lil) when they didn't field Pranav/Sikki in XD. Though a part of me knows how good Ashwini is in team events and how important XD is for the tie. One game to the good, keep it up.
MAS XD just lost 1 game terribly to IND XD, why MAS no send Goh/Lai instead of Chan/Goh? Is either GSH or Shevon Lai got injured?
honestly most of us don't know the reason either... for sure not based on performance, maybe experience
Wow. Satvik has to play the third match as well. What a bizarre scheduling. Women's single could have been placed as the third match instead of men's doubles.
Sonyliv. App n website. Yes, MD as third can be disastrous Satwik is literally bathed in sweat But as predicted Ashwini clinical in team events yet again. They enjoyed the match that's the least to say
Simply amazing by Satwik. Brilliant. India took the first match of the tie. Way to go. They deserved it.
Apart from LCW, MAS badminton players are not exactly known for their "comeback wins"... Apparently this is also problem with the current/new generation of CHN badminton players (vs KOR, JPN) -- you get a big enough lead against them, and they'll just crumble...
It was experience, not performance, that won the match -- Ashiwini Ponnappa's (IND) experience that is, especially in captaining Satwik Rankireddy (IND).... You rarely see the male player in XD under even more pressure than the female player, but Rankireddy looked like he would fallen apart (& rushed/overcooked every shot) if Ponnappa wasn't there to keep him together -- first time I've seen a player (Rankireddy) walking off court, completely forgetting to shake his opponents hands... tsk, tsk, tsk, the officials had to stop him from going off and make him shake MAS' hands.