After having qualified for the final of the World Junior Tennis competition, Indian girls failed to put up a spirited performance and were thrashed 0-3 by Thailand in the semi-final match of the Asia Oceania qualifiers in New Delhi on Saturday.
India, seeded second, will now fight it out for the third place Sunday with top seed Indonesia, who faced an upset 1-2 loss at the hands of fifth seed Japan in the other semi-final. In the final, Japan will clash with Thailand for the top honour.
For India, Rishika Sunkara went down 4-6, 4-6 to Napatsakorn Sankaew while Aishwarya Agrawal lost 6-3, 3-6, 1-6 to Lusika Khumkhum at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium.
In the inconsequential doubles rubber, the duo of Rishika and Nova Patel lost 5-7, 3-6 to Jarunwadee Kaewma and Napatsakorn.
In the other semi-final, fifth seeded Japan took control of the proceedings by winning the first singles against top seed Indonesia.
Akiko Omae gave Japan the lead by defeating Cynthia Melita Setyawan 7-6, 6-3. Indonesia squared it by wining the next singles match, as Grace Sari Ysidora defeated Emi Mutaguchi 6-4, 6-3.
In the deciding doubles rubber, Japanese duo of Mutaguchi and Omae defeated the Thai pair of Cynthia and Grace 0-6, 6-0, 6-4.
{{/usCountry}}In the deciding doubles rubber, Japanese duo of Mutaguchi and Omae defeated the Thai pair of Cynthia and Grace 0-6, 6-0, 6-4.
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