Indian women start Badminton Asia Team Championships with 5-0 win over Myanmar

The defending champions, Indian women’s team, began their campaign at the Badminton Asia Team Championships with a 5-0 win over Myanmar in their opening Group Y match on Wednesday.In the first singles, Tanvi Sharma beat Thet Htar Thuzar 21-13, 21-16 in 32 minutes. Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj followed with a 21-12, 21-6 win over Eaint Chit Phoo in the second singles, giving India a 2-0 lead.Malvika Bansod secured the tie in the third singles by defeating Lin Lin Htet 21-19, 21-12.India also won both doubles matches in straight games. Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra beat Su Latt and Thet Htar Thuzar 21-15, 21-16, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won 21-8, 21-6 against Htet and Phoo.Team India last won the Badminton Asia Team Championships in 2024, when they defeated Korea in the final to lift the title.The team has not named a replacement for star player PV Sindhu and will instead rely on young players such as Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod and Tanvi Sharma.Six players: Tanisha Crasto, Treesa Jolly, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Gayatri Gopichand and Tanvi Sharma, were also part of the team that won the gold medal in 2024.India will face last edition’s runner-up Thailand in their second group match on Thursday.