PETALING JAYA: Desperate times call for desperate measures.
India had to turn to former world singles champion P. V. Sindhu for double duty in their opening Group A Uber Cup tie against Denmark on Friday (April 24) at Forum Horsens.
India paired Sindhu with Tanisha Crasto following the absence of world No. 30 duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand after Treesa suffered an ankle injury ahead of the Asian Championships in Ningbo four weeks ago.
Tanisha has not featured regularly in women’s doubles for some time, with her main focus in recent years being the mixed doubles alongside Dhruv Kapila.
Even so, the Sindhu-Tanisha combination managed to earn India’s second point against Alexandra Boje-Christine Busch after the Danish pair were forced to retire with India trailing 19-21, 17-14 when Busch injured her left knee.
However, the point was merely a consolation for India as Denmark had already sealed victory after taking an unassailable 3-1 lead.
"In the first game, I thought we played really well and I really enjoyed it, irrespective of Busch falling down,” said Sindhu in an interview with Olympics.
"It was sad, of course, but even in the first game we were only making simple errors and I felt we were still in it. In the second game, we were leading.
"In doubles, obviously I have only played with other players a few times. But she (Tanisha) has more experience in mixed and doubles, so I was asking her how she wanted us to move, whether I should cover one side or the other.
"I think we were comfortable. It was not like we were confused or needed to keep adjusting positions. Everything felt normal, like we were just playing a regular doubles match.''
It was not Sindhu’s first outing in women’s doubles at the Uber Cup, having previously partnered Reddy Sikki and Ashwini Ponnappa when India won bronze in the 2016 edition in Kunshan.
Earlier, Sindhu gave India the perfect start by beating Line Christophersen 21-13, 18-21, 21-17, but Unnati Hooda then lost 12-21, 23-25 to Line Kjaersfeldt in the second singles.
Amalie Kudsk-Mette Verge put Denmark 2-1 ahead after beating Priya Konjengbram-Shruti Mishra 17-21, 21-11, 21-13 before Amalie Schulz sealed victory for the hosts with a 21-10, 16-21, 21-16 win over Tanvi Sharma.
