Uphill task for shuttlers

Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta will have an uphill task of inspiring the Indian women’s team when they open their campaign in the Uber Cup (Asia Zone) in Macau on Tuesday.

Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta will have an uphill task of inspiring the Indian women’s team when they open their campaign in the Uber Cup (Asia Zone) in Macau on Tuesday.

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India, who had reached the knockout stage in 2010, have been handed a tough draw as they are clubbed with China and Malaysia in group W. India play Malaysia and even if Saina and the doubles pair of Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa win their respective matches, they would still need to pull off at least one more match out of the two singles and one doubles.

Jwala admitted that it would be “doubly difficult” for India to make the knockouts. “China, Malaysia in the group and I won't lie, it would be doubly difficult but I’m looking forward to the event,” Jwala said.