Indian shuttlers go down fighting

India went down fighting to Russia 2-3 in the qualifying match to progress to Group 2, in the Sudirman Cup, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Friday.

In the final of Group 3, Russia and India had to wait until the last match, the men's doubles, to see who would gain promotion. This time, Rupesh Kumar and his partner weren't able to pull it off.

Jaseel P Ismail and B R Meenakshi started badly, losing to Nikolaj Zuev and Rusljakova Irina 2-11, 13-10, 7-11 in the mixed doubles. But India No. 1 Pulella Gopichand restored parity, winning the singles tie against  Georgij Izotov 15-6, 15-5. However, India No. 1 Aparna Popat lost to Ella Karachkova 4-11, 11-8, 7-11 in the women's singles to trail again.

But India levelled restored parity again by winning the women's doubles. Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian defeated Nina Vislova and Valeri Sorokina 11-6, 11-7.

In the all-important men's doubles tie, Markose Bristow and Rupesh Kumar lost to Nikolaj Zuev and and Stanislav Pukhov 15-12, 6-15, 7-15.