By Madhura Kadaba

The Indian Women’s team for the Uber Cup lost to eventual winners China on May 21, settling for a bronze. This is only the second time the Indian women’s badminton team has qualified for the Semi Finals at the World Team Championships, after last year (when also it won a bronze).

At the Uber Cup, the World Team Championships for Women in Badminton, the Indian team consisted of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde and N Sikki Reddy.

Nehwal lost to the 2013 Champion Ratchanok Intanon, but PV Sindhu equaled the score by beating Busanan Ongbumrungphan. World No.14 Doubles pair Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta won their match against Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in straight sets. 19 year old Shivani Gadde played the third singles against Nitchaon Jindapol, outshining the former World No12 in straight sets and sealing the win.

The Indian team previously beat Australia and Germany and lost to Japan, but qualified for the last 16 by being the number 2 team in their group.