New Delhi: Second seeded India trounced Barbados 5-0 in their second pool D match of the badminton mixed team event in the Commonwealth Games here on Tuesday.
World No.3 Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap won their singles ties without much fuss. In the men's doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas continued the good work.
Ashwini Ponappa and Aparna Balan carved out easy victories in the women's doubles as India registered their second victory. They thrashed Kenya 5-0 Monday in the five-team pool.
The Indians had won the mixed team bronze in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games four years ago.
Jwala Gutta and V. Diju gave a good start, beating Thorpe Dakeil Jonathan and Watson Shari Latoya 21-3, 21-8 in just 11 minutes in a mixed doubles clash.
Kashyap, who replaced Chetan Anand for Tuesday's tie, got the better of Reifer Nicholas Colin 21-14, 21-6 before Saina outclassed Eastmond Mariama Ayanna 21-3, 21-6 in 13 minutes to clinch the tie for India.
In the two remaining inconsequential matches, Sanave and Rupesh defeated Reifer Nicholas Colin and Thorpe Dakeil Jonathan (14 min) 21-4, 21-9, before Ashwini and Aparna made it a clean sweep with a 21-8, 21-8 victory over Eastmond Mariama Ayanna and Watson Shari Latoya.
India will be up against Wales in the morning session on Wednesday and face Scotland in the evening.
"From tomorrow it would get tough. Today I played all my strokes and also had some long rallies. My movements were good and I also adjusted better to the conditions," said Saina, who found one side of the court faster.
Saina said Aditi Mutatkar will play in one of the singles matches on Wednesday.
"On Wednesday we have two matches and I would like to play both. But I know it would be too tiring, so may be Aditi (Mutatkar) will play one singles," she said.
Kashyap said initially he had problems with the lights inside the stadium, but he adjusted to it.
"It is bright out there, so it was a little different playing first time. I made some mistakes but it was easy later on," Kashyap said.
Asked how he felt making his debut in the Commonwealth Games, Kashyap said: "There are no special feelings now. Maybe once I beat some tougher opponents, the feeling of my debut will sink in."
Doubles specialist Rupesh said they were ready for the big matches ahead.
"It was a relatively easier match. We are gearing up for the next two days where we will have play two matches each day. Wales and Scotland have good teams and we would look to top the group so that we can avoid England," he said.
Comments
0 comment