Aarhus [Denmark]: India defeated the team from Spain by 3-2 in their opening Group B encounter of the ongoing Uber Cup here at the Ceres Arena in Aarhus on Sunday. In the opening clash of the tie, India’s lead women’s singles player at the Uber Cup, Saina Nehwal was forced to retire from her opening match against Spain’s Clara Azurmendi when she felt a sudden pain in her groin. Before retiring from the match, the Indian narrowly lost the opening game 20-22 to the world no 58 Azurmendi. With that, Saina was then unable to continue the second game. For the second match of the tie, Malvika Bansod propelled India towards a fightback as the 20-year-old got the better of world No 71 Beatriz Corrales in straight games. The left-handed Indian shuttler overwhelmed Spaniard by 21-13, 21-15. In the third match, doubles pair Tanisha Crasto and Rutaparna Panda edged India ahead when they defeated Paula Lopez and Lorena Usle 21-10, 21-8. The fourth match saw Aditi Bhatt giving India the decisive lead in the tie. She defeated fellow 18-year-old Ania Setien in straight games by 21-16, 21-14. In the second doubles match of the tie, Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy lost to Clara Azurmendi and Beatriz Corrales by 18-21, 21-14, 17-21. India’s Uber Cup team is now scheduled to play Scotland on October 12 followed by Thailand on October 13.
