Indian shuttlers fought hard but failed to surpass the Division 3 promotional hurdle against France as they went down 3-0 in the play-off match of the Sudirman Cup championship in Glasgow, Scotland.
Despite some of their key players missing the tournament, India did a commendable job by topping Group B which squared them up against Group A toppers France to qualify for Division 2 of the World Team Badminton Championship.
But India’s bid to get a place in the higher Group for the first time since the inception of the tournament came unstuck as they lost all the three matches.
But India pushed France hard and all the three matches were three-game affairs. The mixed doubles pair of V Diju and Aparna Balan won the first game against world no 21 combination of Stoyanov Svetoslav and Elodie Eymard but finally went down 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 in the close encounter that lasted around 45 minutes.
Saina Nehwal, ranked 39, was up against World no 6 Pi Hongyan in the women’s singles event.
The Indian lost 16-21, 21-15, 9-21.
In men’s singles, Anup Sridhar rekindled some hope when he took the first game against Erwin Kehlhoffner but lost the match 21-11, 11-21, 17-21 as India’s challenge ended.

China in final
China reached the final with a 3-0 victory over Asian rivals South Korea but the future of world men's singles champion Lin Dan in the tournament was in doubt.
Lin struggled to win his match against world-ranked number 83 Shon Seung-mo 21-11, 18-21, 21-14 and coach Li Yongbo was seen to remonstrate with Lin at the courtside midway through the game.
The Chinese, chasing their sixth title from 10 stagings of the Sudirman Cup, will now meet England or Indonesia who were contesting the other semifinal.
China were set on their way against South Korea by top mixed doubles pair Zheng Bo and Gao Ling who upped their game at decisive moments to beat Han Sang-hoon and Lee Hyo-jung 21-17 22-20.
Olympic women's singles champion Zhang Ning made it 2-0 with a 21-14 21-17 victory over world-ranked 15 Hwang Hye-youn and Lin then booked his country's place in Sunday's final, though clearly not to coach Li's satisfaction.
In other matches, Thailand lost their place in division one when they lost 3-2 to Hong Kong in a relegation playoff.