Indian shuttlers beat Sri Lanka, win 2 golds

SHILLONG: Indian shuttlers opened their account with two gold medals in the men's and women's team events, easily downing their opponents from Sri Lanka in the 12th South Asian Games here today.

K Srikanth gave Indian men's team a perfect start when he downed Buwenaka Gounathilaka 21-14 21 14 in front of a packed SAI Complex Hall at the North Eastern Hill University Campus in the outskirts of the city this afternoon.

In the second rubber, HS Prannoy faced a stiff challenge from Sachin Dias before overcoming 21-13 21-16 before the doubles duo of Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy tamed Gounathilaka/Dias 21-12 21-11.

Star shuttler PV Sindhu gave Indian women's team a flying start when she beat Kavindi Ishadika Sirimannage 21-7 21-5 before national champion Ruthvika Shivani got the better of Thilini Pramodika 23-21 21-13.

The rising youngster from Vijayawada, Shivani was traling 19-20 in the first set but she showed superb on-court presence to level 21-21 before wrapping it up as she won the second set easily to hand India a 2-0 lead.

The doubles team of Ashwini and Sindhu outplayed Achini Rathnasiri and Upuli Samathika 21-13, 21-13 to add a second gold from badminton.