Birmingham, July 29 (Agency) Defending champion India clean swept Pakistan in the badminton mixed team Group-A tie here on Friday at the Commonwealth Games. Mixed pair of Ashwini Ponappa and Sumeeth Reddy gave India a winning start after beating Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti and Ghazala Siddique 21-9, 21-12 in the first rubber. Then, Kidambi Srikanth comfortably beat Murad Ali in the men’s singles to extend the lead 2-0.
Ace shuttler PV Sindhu dominated the women singles match as she trounced Mahoor Shahzad in straight games 21-7, 21-6 to give India unassailable 3-0 lead over Pakistan.
Men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued Indian dominance as they defeated Murad Ali and Mohd Irfan Bhatti 21-12,21-9 in the fourth rubber. Rising women doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand helped India sweep with dominant 21-4, 21-5 win over Mahoor Shahzad and Ghazala Siddique. India will next play Sri Lanka in the second Group A tie on Saturday.