CWG: Ashwini-Sikki bag bronze in badminton women s doubles (Lead)

Gold Coast (Australia) April 14 (IANS) India s Ashwini Ponnappa and N.Sikki Reddy bagged the bronze medal in badminton women s doubles beating Australians Setyana Mapasa and Gronya Somerville at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Saturday.

The Indian duo prevailed in straight games 21-19 21-19 over the Australians in a 47-minute crunch match at the Carrara Sports Arena here.

The opening game went neck and neck with both the teams locked twice at 3-3 and 6-6 before Ashwini and Sikki edged past with a slender 11-9 lead at the breather.

Coming back both the teams tried outwitting each other with a range of smashes as the scoreline once again matched at 14-14 before the Indian pair collected four straight points to surge ahead at 18-14.

But there was more drama in store as the Aussie pair came back strongly with two consecutive points to reduce the margin to 16-18 before Ashwini and Sikki closed it in 23 minutes.

The second game saw the Australians taking an early 4-0 lead before the Indians managed to open their account. Setyana and Gronya extended their lead to 11-9 midway into the game.

After the break India went ahead collecting four points on the trot to take a 13-12 lead and stretched it further to 16-15.

The Australians however bounced back to level the scores at 18-18 and again at 19-19 before the Indian duo used their experience to collect the next two points and wrap up the pulsating game and match in 24 minutes.

--IANS
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