Press Trust of India
Hyderabad, Feb 17: India began their campaign in the Badminton Asia Team Championships here Wednesday in style with both men’s and women’s teams posting victories against their Singapore rivals to make it to the quarterfinals.
The men, taking the court first blanked their rivals 5-0. India will now take on China in the three-team Group A from which two teams will qualify for the last eight stage.
Despite the absence of star player Saina Nehwal, the Indian women registered a comprehensive 5-0 win against the Singapore eves to also book their place in the quarters.
India’s rising shuttler Kidambi Srikanth had to fight hard to defeat his Singapore rival Zi Liang Derek Wong 21-16, 12-21, 21-13 in the first singles in the men’s segment.
The Singaporean tried to make matters difficult for Srikanth by winning the second game, but the World No. 9 bounced back to have the last laugh.
It was almost a one-sided affair for Ajay Jayaram as he trounced Kean Yew Loh 21-11, 21-18 in the second rubber. In the third singles, World No. 27 HS Prannoy dominated against Zin Rei Ryan NG and clinched a 21-10, 21-12 win.
In men’s doubles the duo of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy beat Yong Kai Terry Hee and Kean Yew Loh 21-15, 21-14 while Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar trounced Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Hendra Wijaya 21-14, 21-13.
In the women’s category, PV Sindhu gave the hosts a good start with a 21-17, 21-11 win against Singapore’s Xiaoyu Liang.
Sindhu, who demonstrated great energy on the court, came up with some delectable shots to clinch the match in her favour.
PC Thulasi too had a great day in office with a comfortable 21-16, 21-7 win against a low-ranked Hui Zhen Grace Chua in the second singles.
Ruthivika Shivani, who recently won the SAG singles gold defeating Sindhu, also did not disappoint and eked out a comfortable 21-12, 21-14 victory over Jia Min Yeo in the third singles to give India an unassailable 3-0 lead.
It was also a cakewalk for India in doubles as Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa too proved their mettle with a comfortable 21-18, 21-16 victory over Shinta Mulia Sari-Wei Han Tan. Then Sindhu also took the doubles court with Sikki Reddy and the duo trounced their rivals Jia Ming Crystal Wong-Jia Min Yeo 21-8, 21-14 to make it a clean sweep.
