India finish fourth in Uber Cup Asia Zone qualifier

Saina Nehwal and Trupti Murgunde won their respective singles matches but India still could not get past formidable Japan and settled for the fourth place in the Uber Cup Asia Zone qualifiers in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on Sunday.

With this 2-3 defeat, the Indian women's team's fate now depends on rankings of European qualifiers' fourth-place finishers Holland and some myriad calculations.

World No 7 Saina got rid off 24th ranked Ai Goto 21-17, 21-16 in 30 minutes to give India a headstart.

But the doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost to World No 7 Fujii Mizuki and Kakiiwa Reika 16-21, 15-21 in 32 minutes.

Sayali Gokhale was handed the task of beating World No 18 Hirose Eriko but despite putting up a gallant fight, she lost 20-22, 13-21 in 33 minutes.

National champion Trupti Murgunde then again raised some hope of an upset as she defeated Hirayama Yu 21-8 21-16 in the fourth match.

In the decider, Saina teamed up with Aparna Balan but failed to surpass Maeda Miyuki and Suetsuna Satoko and lost 16-21, 10-21 in 32 minutes as India settled for the fourth spot.