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Shuttlers win easy in opening matches of CWG

By The Assam Tribune

GOLD COAST, April 11: Fit-again top seed PV Sindhu led the charge as Indian shuttlers made short work of their respective rivals to enter pre-quarterfinals of the singles competition in the Commonwealth Games here today.

Sindhu, who sat out of the gold-winning team campaign because of an ankle injury, took just 18 minutes to oust Fiji�s Andra Whiteside 21-6, 21-3 in her first match of the competition.

�It has been pretty easy today. I hope that it continues tomorrow. I am better and totally fine, so it is really exciting,� she said and thanked the crowd for making her feel at home in a foreign land with its vociferous support.

Second seed Saina Nehwal, despite being exhausted considerably due to playing the entire team event, also took a mere 18 minutes to dispatch Elsie de Villiers of South Africa 21-3, 21-1 in the round of 32 at the Carrara Sport and Leisure Centre.

The Olympic bronze-medallist was as sharp as she is at her best and showed no hint of exhaustion during the match.

�It has been a long week. I just want to be focused and enjoy the tournament. The plus point is I have been playing on this court. When you play somewhere for a week or two you get used to the conditions, so I think that is what happened,� she said.

Ruthivika Gadde too ensured that she wrapped up her match in 18 minutes, sending Ghana�s Grace Atipaka out of the competition with a 21-5, 21-7 triumph. In the men�s draw, K Srikanth was also quite clinical as he got past Mauritian Aatish Lubah 21-13, 21-10.

�It was a good match and a good start to the individual event. I am really happy for the way it went, and I want to keep doing it,� he said.

Just like their dominant show in the team competition, the Indian shuttlers are expected to sweep the individual events. � PTI

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