By Avishek Roy, IANS,
New Delhi: India went down gallantly 1-3 to badminton powerhouse and top seeds Malaysia and settled for a silver in the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games here Friday, Saina Nehwal winning the lone match.
India began the tie, losing their mixed doubles, their top pair Jwala Gutta and V.Diju, world no. 11, to Kien Kit Koo and Ei Hui Chin 14-21, 21-10, 10-21 at a packed Siri Fort Complex.
In the men’s singles, Parupalli Kashyap gave a fright to World No.1 Lee Chong Wei in the first game, before losing 18-21, 7-21.
World No.3 Saina pulled one back against Wong Mew Choo, though not before making a heavy weather of it. She prevailed 24-26, 21-17 21-14, over the World No.16 Malaysian, much to the joy of large crowd that included high profile guests, badminton legend Prakash Padukone and his daughter, film actress Deepika.
Up against World No.1 men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, India’s Rupesh Kumar and Thomas Sanave gave their best shot in the second game but were beaten 12-21, 19-21.
The defeat notwithstanding, it was an inspiring performance by the Indians which fetched them a silver in the mixed team event for the first time. Four years ago in Melbourne they came back with a bronze. India’s 3-0 victory against England here in the semi-final Thursday was the high point of the event.
It was Kashyap who shone Friday. Preferred over more experienced and higher ranked Chetan Anand, and pitted against the class of Chong Wei, the World No. 32 Indian played his heart out and gave the Beijing Olympic silver medallist a run for his money in the first game.
In fact, Kashyap suddenly held out hope. The excitement in the stands was palpable when he led 13-9 in the first game. The Indian mixed his attacking flair with fine deceptive shots to unnerve Chong Wei.
Kashyap would engage Chong Wei in rallies, set up the points beautifully and finish it off with devastating smashes. The Malaysian fought back reeling four points to draw level and then it was a neck-and-neck battle. Eventually, Chong Wei prevailed.
The second game was one-sided. Having read Kashyap’s game, Chong Wei gave no space to the Indian to play his shots. The Malaysian was unerring at the net, using his supple wrists to unnerve the Indian with deceptive shots.
Kashyap in trying to be over aggressive, made a stream of errors at the net.
“I should have continued the way I played in the first game. I made some errors at the start and he took a huge lead. He broke my rhythm and then it was difficult for me to comeback. Nevertheless, the fact that I ran him close in the first game will give me confidence. After all, he is the World No.1,” he said.
Chong Wei acknowledged Kashyap was a top-10 player in the making.
“I was playing him for the first time and I was not prepared for his attack. I soon figured him out and played my natural game. He is a talented player and has a long way to go,” he said.
The bronze went to England who beat Singapore 3-1 in the morning.