India blanks Sri Lanka, Pakistan in badminton team event

Spearheaded by Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth in singles, India expectedly dominated the tie as they dumped their Sri Lankan opponents 5-0. The only match where India were pushed to a degree was the mixed doubles. India later trounced Pakistan by a similar margin but world no 2 Srikanth was made to work hard by a hitherto-unknown Murad Ali in men’s singles.

Pranaav Chopra and Ruthvika Gadde earlier opened the proceedings against Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika and the Indian pair had to toil a little more than anticipated to prevail 21-15 19-21 22-20 in the mixed doubles match, which lasted nearly an hour. However, Srikanth brought the momentum back by dispatching Niluka Karunaratane in straight games. The men’s singles top seed won 21-16 21-10. 

The men’s doubles pair of Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a successful CWG debut, taking down Dinuka Karunaratna and Buwaneka Goonethillkea 21-17 21-14. Next player in was Saina and she didn’t give much time or effort in annihilating Madushika Beruelage 21-8 21-4 in a 22-minute appearance. 

In the last match of the tie, Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy defeated Thilini Pramodika and Kavidi Siriannage 21-12 21-14.

Later in the day, Satwik combined with Sikki to start the proceedings against Pakistan and the duo dispatched Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti and Palwasha Bashir 21-10 2113 in the mixed doubles match to put India 1-0 ahead. In the men’s singles, Srikanth was put to test by Murad Ali. Eventually, Srikanth managed to get past his rival 21-16 22-20 in thrilling match, watched by a sizable diaspora who had turned out to support India. 

London Olympic bronze medallist Saina then brushed aside Mahoor Shahzad 21-7 21-11.