India Face Elimination at Uber Cup: Devika, Isharani Drafted in for Must-Win China Clash

India has made changes to their women’s singles lineup for a crucial Uber Cup group-stage tie against China, bringing in Devika Sihag and Isharani Baruah in place of Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma. The move comes as India faces a must-win situation after losing to Denmark and now needing a major upset against China to keep quarter-final hopes alive.

Isharani Baruah has been handed the responsibility of facing former Olympic champion Chen Yufei in the second singles match. Known for her attacking style and sharp jump smashes, Isharani will need to produce one of the best performances of her career against the experienced Chinese star. In their only previous meeting at the 2024 Uber Cup, Chen won in straight games.

Devika Sihag, ranked world No. 44, has been retained after contributing to India’s 4-1 win over Ukraine. She is set to take on China’s Xu Wen Jing, ranked world No. 98. Devika’s recent form and confidence likely influenced the team management’s decision to keep her in the playing lineup for the decisive encounter.

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The tie is being played in Horsens, where the smaller indoor arena and faster shuttle conditions are said to favour aggressive players. Such conditions could help India’s attacking shuttlers if they settle quickly and apply pressure from the start. Team strategy appears focused on maximising pace and offensive play against a traditionally strong Chinese side.

India had earlier fallen short against Denmark but responded strongly with victory over Ukraine. However, the defeat in their opening tie has left them with little margin for error. To advance to the quarterfinals, India now needs an exceptional performance against tournament favourites China in one of the toughest challenges of the group stage.

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