The valiant efforts of H.S. Prannoy and the men's doubles pair of M.R. Arjun and Shlok Ramchandran went in vain, as India suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat to Singapore in its first match at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The tie started off in Singapore's favour when the mixed doubles pair of Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Tan Wei Han beat India's Arjun and Rutaparna Panda 21-16, 21-13.
Prannoy then secured a 21-8, 12-21, 21-17 win over Thailand Masters champion Kean Yew Loh. After Prannoy drew level, Arjun and Shlok put India ahead with a strong 21-16, 21-18 victory over Loh Kean Hean and Chrisnanta.
India looked good to wrap up the tie, but Ashmita Chaliha went down fighting 21-17, 12-21, 16-21 to World No. 32 Yeo Jia Min.
In the final clash of the tie, Indian women's doubles pair of Arathi Sara Sunil and Panda put up a gritty show but it was not enough. Singapore's Putri Sari Dewi Citra and Lim Ming Hui clinched a 22-24, 21-15, 21-16 win in 1 hour 9 minutes.
After this loss, India is placed at the bottom of Group B, trailing Chinese Taipei and Singapore.
With most of the top Indian stars, including Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth rested ahead of next week's India Open, the contingent had a tough task at this tournament where they lost in the quarterfinals in the previous edition.
India next takes on Chinese Taipei in a must-win encounter on Thursday.
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