CWG 2018

Commonwealth Games: India win maiden badminton mixed team gold

India defeated Malaysia 3-1 in the badminton mixed team final event

India defeated Malaysia 3-1 in the badminton mixed team final event Team India celebrates winning the gold medal in the badminton mixed team event | Reuters

A rampaging Indian mixed badminton team claimed its maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal, thrashing three-time defending champions Malaysia in the final.

The pair of Satwik Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed the mixed doubles match against Peng Soon Chan and Liu Yong Goh 21-14 15-21 21-15, before Kidambi Srikanth stunned three-time Olympic silver medallist Lee 21-17 21-14 in straight games.

Commonwealth Games debutant men's doubles pair of Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lost to Goh and Wee Kiong Tan 15-21 20-22 to keep Malaysia afloat for a while.

But the in-form Saina Nehwal dashed the Malaysian hopes with a 21-11 19-21 21-9 win over Soniia Cheah in the women's singles match.

The Indian, who has played every one of the women's singles matches in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, did look a bit jaded but still had enough in her arsenal to thwart a fighting Cheah.

Her victory ensured that the women's doubles pair of N. Sikki Reddy and Ashwini did not have to show up for their clash against Vivian Hoo and Mei Kuan Chow.