Indian main medal hopes in badminton, PV Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap, notched up easy victories in the women’s and men’s singles events respectively to storm into the pre-quarterfinals at the 20th Commonwealth Games here today.
Indian shuttlers had a good day in office as P C Thulasi, RMV Gurusaidutt, Kidambi Srikanth and men’s doubles pair of Pranaav Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar too reached the last 16 at the Emirates Arena.
World No 11 Sindhu had a walk in the park against South Africa’s Sandra Le Grange whom she tamed 21-4, 21-6 in just 17 minutes, while Delhi Games bronze medallist, Kashyap streamrolled Dakeil Thorpe 21-9, 21-5 in a 19-minute men’s singles match.
World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu will next take on 17-year-old Thilini Hendahewa of Sri Lanka, while London Olympics quarterfinalist Kashyap will meet Australia’s Jeff Tho in his last-16 match.
In another women’s singles match, Thulasi eased past Ireland’s Sinead Chambers 21-10, 21-2 in 24 minutes, while Gurusaidutt brushed aside Edwin Ekiring of Uganda 21-13, 21-11.
Srikanth also didn’t break much sweat as he disposed off Daniel Font of Wales 21-8, 21-13 in his round of 32 match. The Thailand Grand Prix Gold winner will square off against N Karunaratne next.
In men’s doubles, Pranaav and Akshay thrashed Sri Lankan pair of Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Dullewa 21-10, 21-9 in a 23-minute match.
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