India go down fighting to China in Badminton Asian Mixed Team C'ship

India's campaign in Badminton Asian Mixed Team Championship ended with a 2-3 loss to China in semi-finals, but t before doubles teams -- men's and mixed -- came up with inspired performances to give ir opponents a tough time here on Saturday.

Though India lost keenly contested rubber, y will return home with a first-ever medal -- a bronze -- from continental tournament, as both losing semi-finalists are awarded medals.

Down 0-2 after HS Prany had lost opening semi-final match to Lei Lan Xi13-21, 15-21 and two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu had suffered a 9-21 21-16 18-21 defeat at hands of Gao Fang Jie, doubles teams gave a far better performance to bring India back on level terms (2-2).

Prany was match for 2016 world junior champion in mixed team event, losing in just 45 minutes, while Sindhu, who is gradually getting back to full fitness after a heel injury that kept her out for five months, gave a tough fight to her 24-year-old opponent before bowing out in one hour and 10 minutes.

men's doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Chirag Shetty n overcame Ji Ting and Zhou Hao Dong 21-19,21-19 and women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-18 13-21 21-19 to level scores at 2-2.

All eyes were on mixed doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto to guide India into final but Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin proved too strong in decider, winning 21-17 21-13 in just 34 minutes.

Earlier on Friday, India had std a remarkable comeback to down Hong Kong 3-2 and qualify for semi-finals and ensure a first-ever medal in continental tournament.