CWG badminton: Saina, Chetan move to third round
By IANSSunday, October 10, 2010
NEW DELHI - India’s badminton star Saina Nehwal outclassed Sarah Thomas of Wales 21-5, 21-9 to move into the third round of the women’s singles at the Commonwealth Games here Sunday.
Other Indian shuttlers also advanced to the third round with Melbourne Games bronze medallist Chetan Anand beating Nigeria’s Olaoluawa Fagbemi 21-12, 21-6. Parupalli Kashyap spanked Jamaica’s Charles Conran Saunders Pyne 21-5, 21-12.
Aditi Mutatkar dismantled Sri Lankan Yapa Dahanayake Subhodha Kumari 21-14, 21-7 while the mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V. Diju defeated Jamaican Henry Gareth Andre Theodre and Kristal Karjon 21-13, 21-8.
In the men’s doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Ashwini Ponappa defeated Australian Raj Veeran and Veeran Renuga Vithi 21-16, 18-21, 21-18 in 36 minutes to enter the third round. Sanave Thomas and Aparna Balan got the better of Fagbemi and Maria Hajara Braimah of Nigeria 21-10, 21-8.
Saina, who is vying for the gold, thanked the crowd for its support.
“I am really happy to see such a massive crowd. It was a good match. There was no pressure on me,” said Saina.
“I was faster on the courts today. I made a few mistakes in the second game. Sarah was really good,” she said.
