CWG 2018: India bag first-ever gold in badminton mixed-team event

Gold Coast [Australia], April 9 (ANI): London Olympic silver-medallist Saina Nehwal produced a rich vein of form as she helped the star-studded Indian badminton team hammer Malaysia 3-1 to clinch the gold medal on Day Five of the 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia here on Monday.

Nehwal guided India to their maiden gold in the mixed team event of the prestigious multi-sport Games after the pair of Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty lost their men's doubles clash.

In the opening match, the Indian duo Satwik Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa rebounded strongly from a game down to register a 21-14, 15-21, 21-15 win over Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh in a thrilling mixed doubles clash that lasted one hour and five minutes.

It was star shuttler Kidambi Srikanth who then doubled India's lead as he stunned Chong Wei Lee 21-17, 21-14 in a one-sided men's singles clash that lasted for 43 minutes.

However, the men's doubles team of Chirag Chandrashekhar Shetty and Satwik Rankireddy slumped to a shocking 15-21, 20-21 defeat at the hands of the Malaysian duo of V Shem Goh and Wee Kiong Tan.

With a 2-1 lead, all eyes were on Nehwal and the experienced shuttler did not disappoint her Indian fans as she also bounced back from a game down to clinch a 21-11, 19-21, 21-9 win over Soniia Cheah to seal the deal for India.

This was India's tenth gold medal at the 21st edition of the Games

India are now standing at the third spot on the points table with 19 medals in total, including seven in shooting alone.(ANI)