The Indian women’s team made a stupendous start to their campaign at the Uber Cup badminton tournament, thrashing Australia 5-0 in Kunshan, China, on Monday.
The Indian women’s team made a stupendous start to their campaign at the Uber Cup badminton tournament, thrashing Australia 5-0 in Kunshan, China, on Monday.
The women, who created history clinching the bronze medal in the last edition at New Delhi, won all three singles and both doubles against Australia to grab maximum points at the Kunshan Sports Center Stadium.
World no. 8 Saina Nehwal started the proceedings and after a brief struggle against a much lower ranked Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen, notched up a 22-20, 21-14 win to give India a 1-0 lead.
P.V. Sindhu then brushed aside Joy Lai in 25 minutes to make it 2-0 in their favour. The doubles pair Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa got past Hsuan-Yu Wendy and Gronya Somerville 21-9, 21-15.
South Asian Games gold medallist, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde then hammered Tiffany Ho 21-5, 21-11 in the third singles, while Sikki Reddy N. and Sindhu dismantled Leanne Choo and Joy Lai 21-12, 21-12.
India take on Germany on Tuesday in their next Group D match.
Lee in quarters Meanwhile, Lee Chong Wei came through an unexpectedly tight first game against German unknown Kai Schaefer before Malaysia reached the Thomas Cup quarter-finals with a 5-0 whitewash.
