Badminton minnows Nepal were easy meat for Malaysia in the round of 16 at the Gyeyang Gymnasium on the first day of the badminton competition in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea on Saturday.
But that was as far as Malaysia could go as mighty China crushed Malaysia 3-0 in the quarter-finals later in the day to put an end to Malaysia’s campaign in the women’s team event.
Malaysia’s top woman shuttler Tee Jing Yi, who was rested against Nepal, stayed on court for only 29 minutes in her 21-9, 21-8 defeat to Li Xuerui in a one sided match.
China strolled to a 2-0 lead when Zhao Yunlei-Tiang Qing stopped Vivain Hoo-Ng Hui Lin 21-18, 21-8 win in the first women’s doubles. Yang Li Lian, however, gave a good account of herself against Wang Shixian before surrendering 15-21, 20-22 after a 41 minute battle as China took an unassailable 3-0 lead fpr a place in the semi-finals.
Earlier in the monring, Nepal hardly offered any resistance to the Malaysians with Yang Li Lian, the second woman shuttler in the country romping home with a 21-4, 21-11 win over Tamang Sara Devi for Malaysia’s first point.
Lim Yin Fun made mince meat of Tamang Nangsal in her 21-2, 21-7 win for Malaysia’s second point. Malaysia grabbed an unassailable 3-0 lead with Lim Chiew Sien defeating Shrestha Sichhya 21-13, 21-19.
India also cleared their first hurdleĀ with a 3-0 win over Macau. Powered by World No 7 Saina Nehwal and recent bronze medal winner at the World Championships in Copenhagen, the Indians showed that they are serious medal contenders in the Asiad.
London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal beat Wong Kit Leng 21-6, 21-14 for the first point before Sindhu crushed Teng Loke U 21-8, 21-9. N. Sikki
Reddy-Pradnya Gadre completed the rout with a 21-6, 21-17 over Zhang Zhibo-Wang Rong in the doubles India’s opponents in the quarter-finals are Thailand.
