Crasto and Ashwini defend title at Guwahati Masters

Guwahati

Indian women’s doubles badminton duo, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, successfully defended their title at the Guwahati Masters Super 100, clinching a straight-game victory over China’s Li Hua Zhou and Wang Zi Meng. The match, held on Sunday, saw the top-seeded Indian pair dominate with a 21-18, 21-12 win in just 43 minutes. Crasto and Ponnappa came out strong in the first game, quickly establishing an 8-2 lead. The Chinese pair closed the gap to 10-11 at the mid-game interval, but the Indian duo held their nerve to secure the first game. In the second game, Crasto and Ponnappa extended their advantage with a seven-point streak, eventually sealing the match and retaining their title. Meanwhile, rising Indian shuttler Anmol Kharb fell short of her maiden Super 100 title, finishing as runner-up in the women’s singles. She lost a thrilling final to China’s Cai Yan Yan, with scores of 21-14, 13-21, and 19-21. Anmol started the match strongly, winning the first game with a commanding lead. However, Cai responded with greater intensity in the second game, forcing a decider. In the third game, Anmol fought hard but was edged out in the final moments, as Cai clinched the match with a smash to win 21-19. Despite the setback, Anmol’s impressive performance signals a bright future in women’s badminton.