India won its first Commonwealth Games badminton mixed team gold on Monday at Gold Coast, defeating defending champions Malaysia in the final.
The mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa came back from an 8-12 deficit, scoring seven points in a row to take a 15-12 lead in the decider against Malaysia’s Rio Olympic silver medalists Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying. The Indian pair won the match 21-14, 15-21, 21-15.
World No. 2 Kidambi Srikanth then extended India’s lead to 2-0. He outlasted three-time Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei 21-17, 21-14 in a closely contested clash, earning his first win over the Malaysian icon in five career meetings.
“Perhaps Lee was not at his best but then you can never be too sure against a player like him. You always have to be on your guard, which I was. And I also gave my best. I was not expecting it to be this easy,” said Srikanth.
Malaysia kept its hopes alive when Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong beat Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty 21-15, 22-20 in men’s doubles, narrowing Malaysia’s deficit to 1-2.
Nehwal Seals the Title
In the women’s singles, 2010 Commonwealth Games women’s singles gold medalist Saina Nehwal of India made sure the gold would not slip away, despite a spirited fightback from Soniia Cheah of Malaysia.
Nehwal won the first set easily, 21-11. Cheah fought back from a 3-7 deficit in the second set. She took a medical break to tape up her bruised fingers, then won four straight points to lead 15-13. The second set went to Nehwal 21-19.
World No. 29 Cheah appeared to find a different gear in the third set. She returned everything Nehwal sent over, and her plan of pushing shuttlecocks to the lines at every opportunity paid off as she led 9-8. However, Cheah’s speed and stamina began to fade. Nehwal took full advantage, reeling off 13 straight points to win the third set 21-9 and clinch the mixed team gold for India.
“It was exhausting, I actually lost focus during the match but thankfully managed to hold it together and ensure that the gold medal winning shot was mine. It is a medal that I will forever cherish, it is very special. Team gold is always way more cherishable,” said Nehwal.
“I don’t think anybody in the team is going to sleep tonight. Maybe I will just relax tomorrow and then think about the singles,” added Nehwal.