Commonwealth Games 2018 Badminton: India thrashed Sri Lanka with 5-0

World No. 2 Kidambi Srikanth and former world no. 1 Saina Nehwal led the Indian shuttlers with the winning start at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, outplaying Sri Lanka with 5-0 in the Mixed Team Event on Thursday.

Srikanth defeated Niluka Karunaratne with 21-16, 21-10 to win the match and Saina Nehwal thrashed Madushika Beruwelage with 21-8 21-4 in the women’s singles event.

Earlier, the mixed doubles duo Ruthvika Shivani Gadde and Pranaav Jerry Chopra defeated Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa in the thriller three games with 21-15, 19-21, 22-20 in the 57-minute encounter.

With 11-10 lead in closing stages of the match, India registered first win at the CWG 2018 over Sri Lanka.

Later in the men’s singles match, Srikanth led the first game by the breather with 11-8 before surging to 18-12. The Sri Lankan, however scored three points to reduce the gap with 15-18.

With all the experience, the Indian bagged final three points easily. Followed by the comfortable second game win with 21-10.

With Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s win, India made it 3-0 lead over Sri Lanka. The World No. 21 beat Dinuka Karunaratne and Buwaneka Goonethilekka with 21-17, 21-14 in the men's doubles tie.

The World No. 12 Saina then sealed India's win by thrashing Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage with 21-8, 21-4 in the women's singles match.

After going into the break with a 11-8 lead, Saina roared back scoring 10 points on the trot to comfortably pocket the first game. The Indian extended her dominance in the second game, to take a 11-3 lead at the breather before gaining six points on the trot to eventually clinch the tie.

It turned out to be one-sided affair, when Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy beat Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage with 21-12, 21-14 in straight games.

Next India will have face-off against Pakistan in the mixed-team badminton event.

Tie Results:

India Beat Sri Lanka with 5-0

Mixed Doubles: Ruthvika Shivani Gadde and Pranaav Jerry Chopra beat Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa with 21-15, 19-21, 22-20;

Men’s Singles: Srikanth Kidambi beat Niluka Karunaratne with 21-16, 21-10;

Men’s Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat Dinuka Karunaratne and Buwaneka Goonethilekka with 21-17, 21-14;

Women’s Singles: Saina Nehwal beat Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage with 21-8, 21-4;

Women’s Doubles: Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy beat Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage with 21-12, 21-14.