NEW DELHI, Feb 26 (PTI): Riding on Sayali Gokhale�s stunning win, the Indian women team sailed into the semifinals of the Uber Cup Asia Zone qualifier but it was curtains for their male counterparts in the Thomas Cup in Nakornratchasima, Thailand today.
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal set the ball rolling but it was Sayali who was the star performer for India as she won the most crucial match to help India beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 and enter the last four stage.
Setting the tone, world number seven Saina swept past Chen Hsiao Huan 21-15, 21-14 in the first match but doubles pair of Aparna Balan and Shruti Kurian lost the next match 21-11, 14-21, 18-21 to Chien Yu Chin and Wang Pei Rong in 38 minutes.
Levelled at 1-1, former national champion Sayali took the court in the third match and produced a brilliant game of badminton to see off Hung Shih Han 15-21, 21-10, 23-21 in 48 minutes to put India ahead 2-1.