Indian Women Secure Semifinal Spot Following High-Stakes Battle Against Australia

Ghorpade Seals Victory in Super Eight Opener

In a contest that tested the top seeds' resilience, the Indian women’s team narrowly defeated Australia 3-2 to secure their place in the tournament semifinals. The match, held at the Thyagaraja Sports Complex on July 28, 2026, marked a volatile start to the second stage of a competition essentially serving as the Super Eight. While India dominated Sri Lanka 3-0 earlier that day, the Australian squad led by Yangzi Liu forced the home team into a corner.

Yashaswini Ghorpade emerged as the eventual hero of the tie. After suffering a straight-game defeat to Liu in the opening match, Ghorpade returned to the table for the final deciding rubber against Min Hyung Jee. The youngster maintained control to win 11-5, 11-9, 11-8, effectively neutralizing earlier setbacks and securing India's entry into the next round.

Mukherjee Keeps Hopes Alive Amid Australian Pressure

Australia’s Yangzi Liu proved to be a formidable opponent, delivering clean sweeps against both Ghorpade and Sreeja Akula. With India’s position under threat, Olympian Sutirtha Mukherjee provided the necessary momentum in a third-singles thriller against Constantina Psihogios. Mukherjee’s five-game skirmish concluded with a 13-11 victory in the final game, a result that prevented Australia from closing out the tie early. Sreeja Akula contributed a 3-1 victory over Min Hyung Jee earlier in the session, which further bolstered the Indian scorecard despite her later loss to Liu.

Men’s Squad Advances as Sathiyan Limits Participation

The Indian men's team faced fewer obstacles in their encounter with Australia. Manav Thakkar, currently ranked 38th globally, demonstrated significant grit after sustaining a forehead injury. Thakkar collided with the umpire’s desk during his second game but continued the match to finalize his singles win and help India sweep the tie.

Away from the team results, G. Sathiyan confirmed a change in his individual tournament strategy. The 2019 silver medalist has withdrawn from the men’s singles event, citing a congested competitive calendar. Sathiyan told reporters he intends to focus solely on doubles. He will partner with Harmeet Desai in the men’s division and Sreeja Akula in mixed doubles, viewing both as critical lead-up events for the forthcoming Asian Games.

Key Results Breakdown

• Women: India def. Australia 3-2 (Yashaswini Ghorpade lost to Yangzi Liu 0-3; Sreeja Akula def. Min Hyung Jee 3-1; Sutirtha Mukherjee def. Constantina Psihogios 3-2; Sreeja Akula lost to Yangzi Liu 0-3; Yashaswini Ghorpade def. Min Hyung Jee 3-0)
• Men: Malaysia def. Maldives 3-1; Sri Lanka def. Namibia 3-0
• Other Women's Ties: India def. Sri Lanka 3-0; Canada def. Sri Lanka 3-0; Australia def. Canada 3-0

Source: The Hindu — Home