Young guns help India set up final vs Thailand

When PV Sindhu lost to Aya Ohori - for the first time in 14 meetings - most watching wouldn't have bet on the Indian women's badminton team after their spearhead went down in straight games in the opening rubber on Saturday.

- Sandip Sikdar

But India punched above their weight to beat Japan 3-2 and enter the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships for the first time, in Shah Alam, Malaysia. The Pullela Gopichandcoached side is young and short on experience, but they displayed impeccable spirit and maturity to down the second seeds, even though not at full strength, at the Setia City Convention Center.

India rode on the shoulders of Ashmita Chaliha, Anmol Kharb and the doubles combine of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand the four with an average age of 20-to defeat the two-time champions, who had players ranked way higher than the Indians. In Sunday's final, they will face Thailand, who defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the other semi-final.

It must be noted that most teams have not turned up with their top players. China, who India beat 3-2 in the group stage, did not have Olympic champion Chen Yufei, world No.6 He Bingjiao and world No.1 doubles combine Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yifan.