New Delhi:
P Kashyap pulled off an incredible win over higher-ranked Rajiv Ouseph as India avenged a four-year-old semifinal loss to England, thrashing the visitors 3-0 to assure themselves of a silver in the team badminton event of the Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.
World number 32 Kashyap, who was chosen to play the men's singles over 17th ranked Chetan at the eleventh hour, rose to the occasion and notched up a thrilling straight-game win over 16th ranked Ouseph to help India set up a summit clash with Malaysia here tomorrow.
The mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju gave India a 1-0 lead with a brilliant 21-17 21-17 win over Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork in the first tie to set the ball rolling before Kashyap thrashed Ouseph 21-13 21-17 to extend India's lead.
A fit Kashyap played a strategic game against Ouseph as he engaged in long rallies to tire out his opponent before going for the kill and ensure India a place in the final for only the second time in the Games' history since the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games.
World No. 3 Saina Nehwal then sent Liz Cann packing 21-18 21-11 as India completed a 3-0 spanking of the English team, who had beaten the hosts 3-2 in the last edition at Melbourne in 2006.
"It was a huge responsibility for me to be choosen ahead of Chetan because I felt he was better because he beat him twice before and he is after all the Melbourne bronze medallist. But my team-mates thought I should play. Chetan was also ok with it and I am happy I won the match," Kashyap said.
"I played slow rallies initially before going for attacking shots in the second game. The strategy worked as he got tired and started making mistakes. He has a very good defense and net play. His half smashes are also sharp but I was confident of my fitness," he added.
Saina said she was ecstatic about India reaching the finals.
"We had won a bronze last time but lost to England so we were a little nervous in the beginning. But it was a good team effort and I am very happy. Jwala-Diju started it well and Kashyap was brilliant. I was also confident of winning my match," Saina said.
Asked about the final, Saina said, "It would be a very tough match but if we can play the way we played today and back ourself we have a chance to win the gold and hopefully we will do that," she added.
Earlier, India took just 78 minutes to complete a 3-0 sweep of Canda and advanced to the semifinals at the Siri Fort Sport Complex here.
Jwala and Diju took 19 minutes to make short work of N G Toby and Gao Grace, trouncing them 21-8 21-12 in the first match of the day to give India a 1-0 lead.
Chetan, however, had a difficult time getting past David Snider. After a rollercoaster first game, Chetan was leading 15-6 but the Canadian zoomed his way registering 10 straight points to take the lead at 16-15.
However, the Indian kept his cool and engaged in rallies to seal the match in his favour.
"I relaxed a bit and was not quick enough on my feet. I also made too many unforced errors. He retrieved some of my shots and played goods taps at the net. I was in too mind whether to finish it off or play rallies.
"I did well after levelling at 16 to win it eventually but I need to be more aggressive," said Chetan, who slipped one place to world number 18 today.
With India having a 2-0 lead, Saina then sealed the issue in the hosts' favour with a 21-16 21-13 win over her one-time doubles partner Anna Rice in the women's singles.
In the other semifinal, defending champions Malaysia beat Singapore 3-1.