India go down 1-4 to Malaysia in Thomas Cup

India’s Thomas Cup campaign got off to a horrendous start as the hosts India lost the first four matches in the men’s draw of the Thomas Cup badminton tie against Malaysia at the Siri Fort Sports Complex at New Delhi on Sunday.

World No.18 Kidambi Srikanth went down to World No.1 Lee Chong Wei 19-21 12-21 in a tie lasting 35 minutes in the first singles which was followed by B Sumeet Reddy and Manu Attri’s 14-21 11-21 loss to Boon Heong Tan and Thien How Hoon in the men’s doubles.

With Malaysia 2-0 up, a lot depended on captain Parupalli Kashyap in his match against Wei Feng Chong but the Hyderabadi couldn’t make the most of his chances losing the second singles tie 13-21 6-21 in half an hour.

Making it 4-0 for Malaysia were V Shem Goh and Wee Kiong Tan who beat Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Jerry Chopra 21-17 14-21 21-14 in the second men’s doubles tie.

Giving the hosts their only win was RMV Gurusaidatt who beat Daren Liew 21-18 13-21 19-21 in the third and final men’s singles match.

Results: Men’s singles: L Wei (MAL) bt K Srikanth (IND) 21-19 21-12, W Chong (MAL) bt P Kashyap (IND) 21-14 21-11, D Liew lost to RMV Gurusaidatt 21-18 13-21 19-21; Men’s doubles: B Tan/ T Hoon (MAY) bt B Reddy/ M Attri 21-14 21-11, V Goh/ W Tan (MAY) bt A Dewalkar/ P Chopra 21-17 14-21 21-14