Popat marks return with fine victory

The contrast was as startling as the similarity, even as Indian eves pulled off a remarkable 3-2 victory over fancied Thailand in their Uber...

The contrast was as startling as the similarity, even as Indian eves pulled off a remarkable 3-2 victory over fancied Thailand in their Uber Cup opener today. The experienced Aparna Popat began India8217;s charge, before another Aparna, doubles specialist Aparna Balan, stole the show on debut with her poise and intelligence.

India8217;s No. 1 singles specialist showed no signs of her right wrist injury 8212; except that it was taped 8212; in overcoming the constraints of the new points format and a much higher-ranked opponent to justify her last-minute inclusion in the side.

It took time for her to adjust, though, and unforced errors at crucial junctures cost her the first game against Ponsana Salakjit. Popat was playing a competitive match after three weeks and that too against a player ranked 29 places above her at 21. But, to her credit, she adjusted quickly enough and once she got the range on her shots, she moved her opponent around in a way only an experienced campaigner can, to get India on the move.

The exuberance simmered down a little after India8217;s number one doubles pairing Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian lost, followed by the defeat of Trupti Murgunde.

But, just when it looked all over bar the shouting, in stepped the unheralded combination of B. R. Meenakshi and Balan and the roller-coaster ride began. Meenakshi was the senior of the duo, but it was Balan who caught the eye with her imaginative play. The former still holds a ranking of 128 with Trupti, but she was playing for the first time on the international stage with Balan. Not that it showed.

After trying to hurry through the first game, which they lost, Balan took charge, catching her opponents off-guard with her brilliant net play. The fact that she is rather short for a doubles specialist hardly came in the way as she served superbly and repeatedly drew her opponents to the net with deft drop shots. The 8216;weaker8217; doubles combination did the trick bringing India level at 2-2, before the highly-confident Saina Nehwal saw off her opponent in the deciding singles to give India a real good chance of progressing to the finals in Japan.

Indian women play fancied Hong Kong tomorrow, followed by a match against neighbours Pakistan, while the men open their campaign against Singapore in the Thomas Cup.