India got off to a winning start in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship in Dubai on Tuesday. India blanked Kazakhstan 5-0 in their opening Group B encounter.
The Indian shuttlers did not lose a single game in the five matches against lower-ranked opponents. The mixed pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto put India ahead in 20 minutes with a 21-5, 21-11 win over Makhsut Tadzhibullaev and Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva. HS Prannoy made it 2-0 for India with a 21-9, 21-11 victory against Dimitriy Panarin. PV Sindhu won the rubber for India as she trounced Kamila Smagulova 21-4, 21-12.
Vishnuvardhan Goud and Krishna Prasad defeated Khaitmurat Kulmatov and Artur Niyazov 21-10, 21-6 in men's doubles. The women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand beat Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva and Aisha Zhumabek 21-5, 21-7.
India will face hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) next. A victory against UAE will ensure a quarterfinal berth. There was no upset with all top te ams drubbing their opponents.
Singapore failed to win a single match against Korea. Former world champion Loh Kean Yew suffered a 21-10, 18-21, 15-21 loss to Lee Yun Gyu.
