The deception is in their unstated and understated reputations. Korea are team event giants, who never strut around talking of their potential in the lead-up, nor boasting about their many successes in the aftermath. They tiptoe into host cities of Games and walk away with titles without ever drawing attention to their hidden skills and ice-cool temperaments.
India might’ve ensured a medal in the Asian Games men’s team event, whipping minnows Nepal. But they run into tricky Korea, who might be light on reputation but are pros of the team event dynamic and planning. As Thomas Cup winners, expectations are immense from Indians, and anything less than a final will be a tad disappointing. But the last thing India would do is take Korea lightly, though their team sheet doesn’t evince fear.
It will be Korea vs India in the semifinals after Indonesia were ousted 3-1 by little known names amongst their singles personnel. Not particularly highly-ranked, Korea’s singles players tend to come prepared for team events at Games and rely on unfamiliarity to stun rivals.
India’s Thomas Cup royalty – HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth will need to be wary of the lesser-known names, Jeon Hyeok Jin and Lee Yungyu who beat Jonatan Christie, the individual singles title holder of the Asian Games. India should start strong favourites in singles though, given Prannoy and Sen’s ability to think on their feet, analyse opponents in the opening game and improvise. But Yungyu, tipped to meet Sen, can throw in a spanner or two, though he’s ranked No. 119. Koreans are known to unleash little- known and undissected talents into the deep end and watch them make a splash at team events. Their success at Thomas Cups and team championships point to precise planning, and smart strategies, though Prannoy, Sen and Srikanth are hugely experienced.
Update: #Badminton🏸
The Men’s Team @lakshya_sen, @srikidambi & @ManjunathMithun advance to Semi-Finals, confirming a🎖️for 🇮🇳
All three shuttlers won the respective matches against 🇳🇵
Well done team 🇮🇳! See you at the Semis💪🏻#AsianGames2022#Cheer4India#HallaBol… pic.twitter.com/PVDAU1GwNS
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 29, 2023
Korea unleashed Heo Kwaghee at the Tokyo Olympics and he took out Kento Momota famously. In Yungyu, there is a relatively unknown weapon at Hangzhou.
Their doubles teams are beasts in team events, not to mention them being brand new world champions. Downing Indonesia takes some doing, and Korea leveraged their doubles might while picking on Christie alongside.
China, Japan sizzle in other half
One Indian eye was firmly on the other side of the team event draw, and after Shi Yuqi’s imploding, China steadied themselves with Li Shifeng and their two doubles teams – Liu-Ou and Liang-Wang – dragging the hosts into the semis defeating Chinese Taipei. A reverse result would’ve been quite a scandal in China who, after losing the Olympics men’s doubles final to Taiwancut off the broadcast for the medal ceremony to avoid listening to the anthem of Plum Blossoms.
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But they are on track to meet arch rivals Japan in the semifinals.
Kenta Nishimoto is having quite the Games and calmed Japanese nerves by stubbing out Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong after young Kodai Naraoka lost his opener to Lee Cheuk Yiu. Nishimoto had beaten former World champion Loh Kean Yew to drub Singapore 3-0 on Thursday. Japan’s two doubles teams prevailed in straight games, and might be received with cackles and hoots when China and Japan face off in the semis in what is a fiery rivalry on the badminton courts.
The men’s team event at the Asiad in badminton has always been fiercely contested by the top five countries – China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. This edition welcomes India to baddy’s big bubbling cauldron.
