Asian shuttlers head to Wuhan after a high in Gold Coast
(*credit image:juara.bolasport.com)
Indian and Malaysian shuttlers won two titles each in the 21st Commonwealth Games which ended in Gold Coast, Australia on Sunday - setting the tone for another round of epic battles in the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, China from April 22-29.
Malaysia won the men's singles gold through Lee Chong Wei, the former world number one, while the scratch pair of Vivian Hoo-Chow Mei Kuan walked away with the gold in the women's doubles.
India, a rising badminton power in the world, surprised defending champions Malaysia 3-1 to win their first Mixed Team gold a's dominance and end Malaysia's dominance in the event.
Malaysia were the winners of the mixed team gold in Melbourne (2006), New Delhi (2010) and Glasgow (2014).
Saina Nehwal, the former world number one and ranked No 12 in the latest ranking list, took the women's singles gold in an all-India final against P.V. Sindhu.
History was created in the mixed team and it was also "history" for Srikanth when he beat Malaysian ace Lee Chong Wei 21-17, 21-14 in the men's singles for the first time in four meetings to give India their second point and put his team in the driving seat.
India won the opening point by winning the mixed doubles through Satwik Rankireddy-Ashwini Ponnappa who surprised Rio Olympics silver medallist Chan Peng Soo-Goh Liu Ying.
Malaysia pulled a point back in the men's doubles when Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong beat Satwik Rankireddy-Chirag Chandrasekhar but India sealed victory through Saina Nehwal in the women's singles.
India's former World No 1 Saina Nehwal nailed the women's singles gold with a 21-18, 23-21 win over current World No 3 P. V.Sindhu in all-India final - as India enjoyed their best ever tally in badminton in Commonwealth Games.
The Indians and Malaysians will renew their rivalry in Wuhan against the well rested Chinese, Japanese, Indonesians and not forgetting those from Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong China.
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