Indian women shuttlers shine in South Asian Games 2016

The 12^th South Asian Games saw the Indian women’s team in full swing. An easy win over Nepal this Sunday got them to the semi finals. For our famed women shuttlers, Nepal was not tough to defeat as they won all the three sessions while Nepal could not even win one.

The Indian team comprised P.V. Sindhu, Ruthvika Shivani, Ashwani Ponnappa, P.C. Thulasi, K Maneesha and Sikki Reddy who weighed way too heavy on their Nepalese opponents. Sindhu went for the first match against Sara Devi Tamang and beat her with 21-2, 21-8. Tamang could not reach upto the level of Sindhu and hence lost badly. The second game was taken over by Shivani who took her rival for a spin at 21-6, 21-2.

Sindhu being a top contestant had her name in everyone’s mouths in the public who came to watch the matches. Loud cheers went on throughout the match which kept the Indian contestants spirits high. For the doubles, went the two ace shuttlers, Sindhu and Ponappa, who triumphed successfully at 21-10, 21-8.

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After all these sessions, beating the Afghan team was left as a mere formality for the Indian team to secure their position in the semi-finals.

Sindhu began her year with a sweeping start as she won twice at the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Tournament last month. She played against the Scottish Kirsty Gilmour who lost from Sindhu at 21-15, 21-9. While Ponappa appeared last in the Syed Modi International Badminton Tournament. Ponappa played alongside Jwala Gutta in a doubles match against English pair Heather Oliver and Laurem Smith and won by 21-6 21-14.

The current lot of Indian women shuttlers prove to be quite strong in terms of their practice and game for the tournament. Apart from these two stellar players, even others displayed well understanding of the game. With such fame players who have won recognition internationally, we can surely hope to reach the finals and win the tournament.

Picture Credit- Sportskeeda