New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) The defending champions, India, are set to face China in the women's quarterfinals, while the men's team will take on South Korea during the last eight stage of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2026 in Qingdao, China this Thursday.

Having secured their quarterfinal spot with a match to spare in the group stage, the Indian men's team opted to rest Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth in their match against Japan. Despite this, they delivered a commendable performance before succumbing 2-3, finishing second in Group C.

Similarly, the women's team faced a narrow defeat by the same score against Thailand, as reported by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

In the first singles match against Kenta Nishimoto, former World Junior Championships bronze medallist Ayush Shetty gave India a positive start, dominating the third game to secure victory with scores of 21-18, 15-21, 21-11. Following this, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty extended India's lead with a win of 21-18, 15-21, 21-12 against Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.

However, the momentum shifted when H.S. Prannoy lost in straight games to Yushi Tanaka with scores of 17-21, 11-21, allowing the Japanese team to clinch the top position in the group by winning the second men's doubles and third singles matches.

Earlier in the day, the Indian women's team was unable to capitalize on the winning momentum from Tanvi Sharma, a World Junior Championship silver medallist, along with the strong women's doubles pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.

Playing the first singles in the absence of former World Champion P.V. Sindhu, Tanvi demonstrated her potential by recovering from a closely contested second game to defeat World No. 16 Busanan Ongbamrungphan with scores of 21-14, 17-21, 21-18 in just over an hour.

Treesa and Gayatri then overcame the challenge posed by Tidapron Kleebyeesun and Nattamon Laisuan with scores of 21-14, 20-22, 21-11, giving India a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, the subsequent matches did not favor India, as Rakshitha Sree and the experienced Malvika Bansod lost their singles matches, while the ad-hoc combination of Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra fell 21-19, 14-21, 15-21 against Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan in the second doubles.

Results:

Women Group Y: India lost to Thailand 2-3

(Tanvi Sharma bt Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-14, 17-21, 21-18; Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand bt Tidapron Kleebyeesun/Nattamon Laisuan 21-14, 20-22, 21-11; Rakshitha Sree lost to Pitchamon Opatniputh 19-21, 17-21; Tanisha Crasto/Shruti Mishra lost to Hathaithip Mijad/Napapakorn Tungkasatan 21-19, 14-21, 15-21; Malvika Bansod lost to Pornpicha Choeikeewong 18-21, 14-21.

Men Group C: India lost to Japan 2-3

(Ayush Shetty bt Kenta Nishimoto 21-18, 15-21, 21-11; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty bt Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi 21-18, 15-21, 21-12; HS Prannoy lost to Yushi Tanaka 17-21, 11-21; Hariharan Amsakarunan/Pruthvi K Roy lost to Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi 14-21, 10-21; M Tharun lost to Koki Watanabe 21-12, 14-21, 11-21).