Indian shuttlers thrash Australia 5-0 in Uber Cup opener

Olympic bound Indian shuttlers started their Uber Cup tournament campaign by thrashing Australia 5-0 in in China on Monday. With world number 8 Saina Nehwal leading the charge in the Saina Nehwal, the team won the singles as well as the doubles matches to grab the maximum points at the Kunshan Sports Center Stadium.

Saina Nehwal first match against against World No. 74 Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen, ended in her winning 22-20, 21-14 which gave India a 1-0 lead. Two-time bronze medallist at World Championship, P V Sindhu then demolished Joy Lai in a short 25 minutes, and the Indian team was 2-0 up.

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The efficient doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa didn’t give an inch to to Hsuan-Yu Wendy and Gronya Somerville as India won 21-9, 21-15 in a 28-minute match. South Asian Games gold-medallist, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde then squared off Tiffany Ho, defeating her in 21-5, 21-11 in the third singles, while Sikki Reddy N and Sindhu had no trouble in trouncing Leanne Choo and Joy Lai 21-12, 21-12 to complete the 5-0 drubbing.

The Indian women had clinched the bronze medal in the last edition of the Uber Cup which was held in New Delhi. If this opening performance is anything to go by, they are no doubt looking at bettering that by leaps and bounds.

Feature Image Credit: timesofindia.indiatimes.com