Sindhu, Saina, Srikanth, Satwik-Chirag in finals; Ashwini-Sikki get bronze (Badminton Roundup)

Gold Coast April 14 (IANS) Indian star shuttlers P.V. Sindhu Saina Nehwal Kidambi Srikanth and the men s doubles pair of Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty reached the finals while the women s doubles combine of Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy bagged the bronze medal at the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Saturday.

Ashwini however failed to grab a bronze medal in the mixed doubles partnering Satwik even as H.S. Prannoy suffered defeat in the men s singles bronze-medal playoff.

Otherwise it was yet another superb show from the Indians with at least a gold medal assured as World No.3 Sindhu will meet seasoned compatriot and World No.12 Saina in an all-Indian women s singles final on Sunday.

While Olympic 2016 silver medallist Sindhu thrashed Canada s Michelle Li in straight games 21-18 21-8 in the semi-final Saina overcame a stiff contest from Scotland s Kirsty Gilmour winning by 21-14 18-21 21-17.

Both Sindhu and Olympic 2012 bronze medallist Saina kept their unbeaten run alive and their victories over lower-ranked opponents went on expected lines.

In the men s singles World No.1 Srikanth set his date with World No.7 and Malaysian legend Lee Chong Wei in the summit clash .

While Srikanth registered an easy 21-10 21-17 straight games victory over England s Rajiv Ouseph Chong Wei overcame World No.11 Prannoy 21-16 9-21 21-14.

Prannoy then lost to World No.22 Ouseph 21-17 23-25 9-21 in the men s singles bronze medal match at the Carrara Sports Arena here.

In the men s doubles Satwik and Chirag thrashed Sri Lanka s Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Goonethilleka 21-18 21-10 to enter the final where they will take on English pair of Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis on Sunday.

In the women s doubles action Ashwini and Sikki bagged the bronze medal beating Australians Setyana Mapasa and Gronya Somerville 21-19 21-19.

The Indian duo earlier had lost to Malaysia s Mei Kuan Chow and Vivian Hoo 21-17 15-21 4-21 in the semi-finals.

Ashwini and Satwik had a poor day in the mixed doubles. They first lost 22-20 18-21 16-21 to England s Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith in the semi-final. The Indian pair then lost 19-21 19-21 to Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh of Malaysia in the bronze medal playoff.

--IANS
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