PV Sindhu scripts India victory

New Delhi: P.V. Sindhu led India to a 3-2 win over Hong Kong in their badminton Asia Team Championship opener in Alor Setar, Malaysia, on Tuesday.

Sindhu won her singles match and then partnered N. Sikki Reddy to a win in the doubles.

Sindhu, fresh from her India Open final loss, beat Yip Pui Yin 21-12, 21-18 in the first singles.

Ashwini Ponnappa and Prajakta Sawant then went down 22-20, 20-22, 10-21 to Ng Wing Yung and Yeung Nga Ting in a 52-minute women’s doubles clash. Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli lost to Cheung Ying Mei 19 –21, 21-18, 20-22 in the second singles match to leave India behind at 1-2 in the five-match tie.

Sindhu and Sikki won 21-15, 15-21, 21-14 win over Ng Tsz Yau and Yuen Sin Ying to level the tie.

Ruthvika Shivani Gadde then recovered from a game down to outwit Yeung Sum Yee 16-21 21-16 21-13 in the deciding singles match to hand India a positive start.

The championship is also a qualifier for the Uber Cup final.

On Thursday, India take on formidable Japan, who boast of world no.2 Akane Yamaguchi and reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara.

India’s other top star Saina Nehwal pulled out of the tournament with a groin injury.