India, the defending champion, defeated South Africa by a score of 3-0 to go to the semifinals of the mixed team competition at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
CWG2022: India advances to the semifinals of the mixed team event.
India, as expected, performed flawlessly in their match against South Africa, setting up a potential matchup with Singapore in the semifinals.
To give India a head start in the match, Ashwini Ponnappa and B Sumeeth Reddy, who had been playing together for less than a year and had won the team trials, easily defeated Jarred Elliott and Deidre Jordaan 21-9, 21-11.
The Indian combo ended the match in just minutes, leaving the 857th-ranked couple in a state of utter confusion as they watched the thunderous smashes of Ashwini.
Then, Caden Kakora, a competitor rated 355th in the world, had a lesson in badminton from Lakshya Sen, the bronze medalist from the world championships.
With a whipping body smash that saved 16 match points and gave India a 2-0 lead, the 20-year-old from Almora concluded the match 21-5, 21-6.
The young Aakarshi Kashyap then took the court in opposition to Johanita Scholtz, who is ranked 147 in the world and played a few well-executed strokes to reach double figures.
The Indian combo ended the match in just minutes, leaving the 857th-ranked couple in a state of utter confusion as they watched the thunderous smashes of Ashwini.
Then, Caden Kakora, a competitor rated 355th in the world, had a lesson in badminton from Lakshya Sen, the bronze medalist from the world championships.
With a whipping body smash that saved 16 match points and gave India a 2-0 lead, the 20-year-old from Almora concluded the match 21-5, 21-6.
The young Aakarshi Kashyap then took the court in opposition to Johanita Scholtz, who is ranked 147 in the world and played a few well-executed strokes to reach double figures.
However, Kashyap was always one step ahead as she manoeuvred around the court and successfully employed her deceit to win 21-11 21-16, giving India a 3-0 victory.
India will then play Singapore, who will be anxious to show their mettle after finishing last in the previous tournament four years ago.
Singapore has numerous top players, including world number 19 Yeo Jia Min, who made it to the BWF World Tour Finals last year, and is led by world champion Loh Kean Yew, who is rated ninth in the world. Even though India will be the favourites, the men’s and mixed doubles teams from Singapore are ranked 44th and 36th globally, respectively.