AFP/Dongguan, China

South Korea sent India crashing out of the Sudirman Cup  yesterday as they set up a crunch quarter-final against Lee Chong Wei’s Malaysia.
Women’s world number two Saina Nehwal was the lone victor for India as they lost 4-1 to exit the mixed-teams tournament, following their earlier defeat to Malaysia. Malaysia’s Lee, back from a drugs ban, awaits South Korea in the last eight while hosts and favourites China were drawn against Germany.
Indonesia, who beat Denmark 3-2 yesterday, play Taiwan in the quarters while the Danes, weakened by the axing of top players in a cookie sponsorship row, are against Japan.
Nehwal beat South Korea’s Bae Yeon-Ju 20-22, 21-17, 13-21 but the hard-fought win mattered little as her India team-mates were unable to capitalise.
Ju troubled Saina initially to enter the break with a 11-9 advantage. The Indian, however, kept breathing down her neck and eventually pocketed the game from 18-20 down with four straight points.
In the second game, Saina managed a slender 11-10 lead at the interval but Ju Bae started dominating the rallies and after a intense battle, the Korean broke off at 14-14 to roar back into contest with a six-point burst.
Saina was at her aggressive best in the decider as she dished out a game which Ju Bae could not negotiate. In a jiffy, the Indian marched ahead and sealed the match comfortably to bring India on an even-keel.
Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand then handed Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap the responsibility of taming Son, whom he had beaten in straight games at the Singapore Open last month. Kashyap led 4-1 initially but Son twice grabbed the lead at 8-6 and 12-10. The Indian, however, fought back to clinch the opening game.
But Son edged ahead in the second game at 10-7 and even though Kashyap had clawed back with three points, the Korean marched ahead in giant steps to bounce back. In the decider, Kashyap failed to curb his errors hitting wide and long, and also rushed into a few shots to see Son zoom to a 17-12 lead.
Eventually, a miscued shot from Kashyap took Son to a 20-13 lead before the Korean sealed the match with a powerful smash to make it 2-1 in favour of his team.
Up next, Jwala and Ashwini produced a gritty performance and engaged in a fierce battle with Chang and Jung to move
neck and neck for most part of the first game. While Jwala troubled with her sharp-angled returns, Ashwini dished out some superb smashes from back of the court to eventually wrest the first game.
However, Chung and Jung changed their tactics in the second game and started dominating the rallies to lead 11-6. The Koreans continued their domination after the interval and moved to game point when Jwala hit the net.
The Indians saved two game points before Ashwini’s return found the net and the Korean pair bounced back into contest.
In the decider, Chung and Jung surged ahead to 10-4. Although Jwala and Ashwini managed to narrow it down to 9-11 at the break, they lost steam after the interval as India lost the match. In the inconsequential fifth match, Manu and Sikki showed fighting spirit in the second game but they lacked nerves in crucial moments to go down in straight games.
Elsewhere Jan O Jorgensen beat Firman Abdul Kholik in the men’s singles but otherwise Denmark, weakened by the cookie row, crumbled against Indonesia.
Indonesia were 2-0 up before Jorgensen’s win and doubles pair Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Polii quickly sealed the tie 21-16, 21-13 against Maiken Fruergaard and Maria Helsbol.
Denmark are missing five top players who are sponsored by Kjeldsen Cookies, putting them at odds with their national body after it signed a shirt deal with Danisa Cookies.