Saina Nehwal completely dominated against Sri Lanka’s Madushika Dilrukshi.
Total dominance – if there are two words that can describe India’s performance in the mixed-team badminton event against Sri Lanka. Saina Nehwal’s 21-8, 21-4 win against Sri Lanka’s Madushika Dilrukshi remains the biggest highlight for India. It almost looked like a practice match for the 2012 London Bronze medal winning shuttler. She did not allow any space to her opponent and looked almost in a trance mode, smashing and dropping on her way to give India a big win. World no. 2 Kidambi Srikanth also picked up an easy win over Niluka Karunaratne, defeating him by 21-16, 21-10. India faced an early threat in the mixed doubles with Pranaav Chopra and Ruthvika Gadde dropping a set against Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika Henahewa and winning it just at the last moment by 21-15, 19-21, 22-20.
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Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Buwaneka Goonethulleka and Dinuka Karunaratna by 21-17, 21-14. Ashwini Ponappa and N Sikki Reddy defeated Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage in women’s doubles by 21-12, 21-14.
Commonwealth Games 2018 India vs Sri Lanka Badminton Mixed Team highlights:
India pick up the victory against Sri Lanka in the women's doubles by 21-12, 21-14. It has been a thorough dominant performance for India as they went on to beat Sri Lanka by 5-0 in mixed-team badminton event.
Reddy and Ponappa are having to work against Sri Lanka duo - but they are getting far ahead on points. Already a seven point advantage, but they just need to seal the match. IND 19-12 SL
India continue its dominance in the mixed women's doubles after the break in second game against Sri Lanka - IND 15-9 SL with a six point advantage!
Ashwini's power and timing is absolutely impeccable! She gives an advantage at the break in the second half of the women's doubles against Sri Lanka. IND 11-5 SL
Terrific aggressive play from Ashwini and Reddy in the women's doubles and they have given a solid 5-point lead to India in the second game. IND 9-4 SL
India start strong in the second game - And they have already taken a 5-point lead against Sri Lanka. IND 6-1 SL in the second game
India win the first game with a smash from Ashwini and Sri Lanka had no reply to that! IND 21-12 SL in the first game
Ashwini tried to go for a smash but the shuttle went on to hit the nets. India though still has a 5-point lead in the first game and will look to win the game. IND 17-11 SL
Terrific return from Thilini and Sri Lanka are starting to close the gap between the points. It has been a positive fightback after the break from Sri Lanka. India still in lead though. IND 14-11 SL in first game
Three points on the trot for Sri Lanka followed by a faulty serve gave India the advantage at the break. IND 11-8 SL in first game
Ruthless smash from Reddy! She hit it right in between the two Sri Lankan players - marked her spot well. No chance for Thilini or Kavidi to get a reply to that. India in control. IND 10-4 SL in first game
Reddy has been absolute dominant from the start and she is beautifully manipulating the left corner. India are 6 points ahead of their rivals early on in the first game. IND 8-2 SL
Terrific timing and coordination between Ponappa and Reddy early on as they take four point lead in the first game. Sri Lanka's Thilini and Kavidi are committing unforced errors at the start. IND 4-0 SL in first game
Ashwini Ponappa and N Sikki Reddy will lock horns with Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage in the final match against Sri Lanka, which will be the women's doubles. India have won all four matches so far and will aim for a clean sweep here.
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READ: Gururaja wins India’s first medal in Gold Coast
Match point for Saina Nehwal - she serves, gets a return and smashes it towards Madushika. The Sri Lankan had no reply for that. India beat Sri Lanka 21-8, 21-4 in women's singles.
6 points on the trot for Saina Nehwal after the break and Nehwal extends her lead over Madushika by 14 points! IND 17-3 SL in second game
Another smash, another point for Nehwal! She has not allowed Madushika any amount of space to breathe in the second game. India take the advantage at the break. IND 11-3 SL in second game
Saina Nehwal is in the groove and she has a 7-point lead over Madushika now. Smash! And she gets another point now. Extends India lead to 9-1 over Sri Lanka.
Unforced errors from Madushika gives three straight points to Saina Nehwal in the second game and it has been total dominance from the Indian. IND 3-0 SL in second game
Saina Nehwal scores 10 points on the trot after the break as she wins the first game for India against Madushika. IND 21-8 SL in first game
Six points on the trot for Nehwal and it is not going Madushika's way at the moment in spite of her attempts. Nehwal extends her lead by 9 points in the first game. IND 17-8 SL in first game
Saina Nehwal takes the advantage for India at the break in the first game - IND 11-8 SL. It has been a good show for Madushika so far in a match in which she is clearly not the favourite.
Really good shot from Madushika to get back a point after Nehwal had taken 3 points on the trot. Sri Lanka trying to get back into the game. But India still has the lead. IND 10-7 SL in first game
Saina Nehwal makes an error in the serve as she gives away a point to her opponent. Getting back the serve Dilrukshi too makes an error and India continue to lead. IND 5-4 SL in first game
The 2012 London Bronze Olympic medal winning shuttler Saina Nehwal will go head-to-head against Sri Lanka's Madushika Dilrukshi in women's singles competition as India look for their fourth win.
Match point for India - the serve is with Sri Lanka - Terrific smash from Shetty and India take the match in men's doubles as well. Third win for India against Sri Lanka. IND 21-17, 21-14 SL
Absolute domination from the Indian pair as they take a 7-point lead over Sri Lanka in the men's double. IND 18-11 SL in second game. It has been total one-way traffic after the break.
India take lead at the break in second game - IND 11-8 SL
Terrific drop shot from Rankireddy followed by a smash from Shetty and the Sri Lankan pair left could not answer that. Terrific team effort from the Indian duo. IND 10-7 SL in second game
Sri Lanka's defence left in shatters with constant attacks from Shetty and Rankireddy. India take a 5-point lead early on in the second game against Sri Lanka. IND 7-2 SL in second game
Terrific defending from Rankireddy and Shetty and the transition from defence to attack is smooth as ever. India takes a 2-0 lead in the second game against Sri Lanka.
Game point for India- Sri Lanka serves and an unforced error gives the point to India. The first game goes to India. IND 21-17 in first game.
Flat and furious display from Sri Lanka as they went on to take three points on the trot. The reflex action from Sri Lankan pair is commendable as they close the gap between the two teams. IND 19-15 SL
Terrific attacking display from Shetty and Rankireddy as they extend India's lead in the first game by 6 points. The Sri Lankan pair are finding it hard to defend at the moment. IND 18-12 SL in first game
Sri Lanka are trying to get back into the game but at the moment they are finding it hard against the Indian pair to get going. The unforced errors are not doing them any favours. IND 13-9 SL
Smash from Shetty and he puts India in front at the break in the first game in men's doubles. IND 11-7 SL in the first game.
A missed shot from the Indian pair as the shuttle went on to hit the nets. Sri Lanka get a point but they continue to trail by 4 points in the first game. IND 9-5 SL
Good rally! Sri Lanka keeping the spirit going in spite of losing their first two matches against India. They score thrice in a row to level the score in the first game. IND 3-3 SL in men's doubles.
Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will square off against Buwaneka Goonethulleka and Dinuka Karunaratna in men's doubles competition now. India are already 2-0 up against Sri Lanka and they need one more win.