Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto fall to Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida at the Paris Olympics 2024. © Twitter (@Abhiee0312)
India’s Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost to Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, the world’s fourth-ranked women’s doubles team, in a brutal match at the Paris Olympics 2024. The game lasted 48 minutes and ended with scores of 11-21 and 12-21, leaving the Indian duo grappling with their second consecutive defeat in the group stage of the women’s doubles badminton competition.
The Japanese team, demonstrating exceptional form, asserted their dominance right from the beginning. Matsuyama and Shida’s aggressive, offensive play and solid defensive strategies overwhelmed Ponnappa and Crasto. The Indian pair struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match and could not mount a significant challenge against their higher-ranked opponents.
From the outset, Matsuyama and Shida took control of the match. They quickly built a 4-0 lead, taking advantage of a long rally that saw Crasto net the shuttlecock. Despite Ponnappa’s efforts with a powerful smash and Crasto’s body smash that briefly brought India to 2-7, the Japanese duo rapidly extended their lead. The relentless pressure from Matsuyama and Shida made it clear that they were in command of the game.
The second game began with even more challenges for Ponnappa and Crasto as the Japanese pair raced to a 7-1 lead. The situation was exacerbated when Crasto suffered a finger injury and required medical attention. Though the Indian duo secured three back-to-back points, the momentum was short-lived, and the Japanese pair quickly reasserted their dominance. Matsuyama and Shida’s exceptional court coverage, coordination, and effective combination of power and precision proved too much for Ponnappa and Crasto. By the end of the match, the Japanese team had nine match points, sealing their victory decisively.
Following the match, Ponnappa expressed her disappointment, acknowledging the significance of this game for their quarterfinal hopes. “A bit disappointed because this was the only shot we had for a chance to get to the quarters. It was not the way we wanted to play, but they were solid. I wish we had given them a better fight,” she said.
Crasto, despite the loss, remained positive and reflective. “They were solid, offensively and defensively. Defensively, we were a bit lacking today, which cost us quite a few points. Offensively, when we were attacking, we could have capitalized a bit more,” she explained. Despite the challenges, Crasto also highlighted the confidence they had gained from competing at such a high level. “It’s not over for us yet; hopefully, we will be able to pull through,” she concluded, referring to their final group stage match against Australia’s Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu.
As Ponnappa and Crasto prepare for their last group match, their performance against the Australian pair will be crucial in determining their progression to the quarterfinals. With determination and resilience, they will look to end their group stage campaign on a high note and advance further in the competition. Keep checking for additional information and thorough coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
