The Indian shuttlers have been on fire here. On Monday, they came up with another superb display, giving the country its first ever gold medal in the mixed team event with a brilliant 3-1 win over defending champion Malaysia.
The attempts since 1998 in Kuala Lumpur have not been successful, but at the XXI Commonwealth Games, India finally tasted success, and that too without trying its best player, P.V. Sindhu at any stage.
With Sindhu recuperating from a minor injury (as we are told), the onus was on Saina Nehwal to get the side to victory and she was true to her calibre.
Good start
India began well through the pair of R. Satwick and Ashwini Ponnappa, who despite being pushed, notched up a 21-14, 15-21, 21-15 win over Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh.
Then K. Srikanth defeated Lee Chong Wei in straight sets. The top-ranked Indian was pitted against the Malaysian star for the first time in almost three years and had never won against him. But this evening, it turned out to be a one-sided affair in favour of the Indian, whose attacking game had Lee on the defensive.
Gold Coast: Indian players celebrates as India's Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwik Randireddy beat Malaysia's Liu Ying Goh and Peng soon Chan during the Mixed Double of Badmintion Mixed Team final during the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Gold Coast, on Monday.
Malaysia, however, pulled one back through V. Shen Goh and Wee Kiong Tan who defeated Satwik and Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty 21-15, 22-20 in the men’s doubles.
And it was again left to Saina to complete the formalities. But Sonia Cheah proved to be a tough opponent for the Indian.
Saina, however, was not perturbed, even though she lost second set, as she pulled away 12 straight points in the final set to give the country one of its most memorable moments in the sport. Saina won 21-11, 19-21, 21-9.
The results: Mixed team event (final): India bt Malaysia 3-1 (R. Satwik & Ashwini Ponnappa bt Peng Soon Chan & Liu Ying Goh 21-14, 15-21, 21-15; K. Srikanth bt Lee Chong Wei 21-17, 21-14; Satwik & Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty lost to V. Shen Goh & Wee Kiong Tan 15-21, 20-22; Saina Nehwal bt Sonia Cheah 21-11, 19-21, 21-9).
Losers’ final: England bt Singapore 3-0.
