Intro:

Japan fought back from 2-0 down to beat India 3-2 on Friday and reach the final of the Uber Cup

Script:

India were the favourites going into their Uber Cup semi-final with Japan on Friday and with a partisan crowd in New Delhi cheering them on you would not have backed Japan to spring a suprise.

It looked to be going to script when World number eight Saina Nehwal claimed her fifth successive straight games victory of the tournament by beating Japan's Minatsu Mitani 21-12, 21-13.

The host nation then increased their advantage in the second match.

P.V. Sindhu battled back from a game down and saved a match point in the decider before completing a 19-21, 21-18, 26-24 win over Sayaka Takahashi.

That left India just one win away from their first Uber Cup final appearance,

However, Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi lived up to their ranking of the world number fours, beating world number 36 duo Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa.

Eriko Hirose continued Japan's fightback in the fourth game.

The tie would be decided by a second doubles match, in which world number five duo Reika Kakiiwa and Miyuki Maeda faced Nehwal and Sindhu as they completed a 21-14, 21-11 victory as Japan took the tie 3-2.