Defending champions Malaysia set-up a dream final against top seeds India in the 21st Commonwealth Games by defeating England and Singapore respectively at the Carrara Sports Arena 2, Gold Coast on Sunday.
In the semi-finals Malaysia defeated England 3-0 while India surprisingly lost a point in the men’s doubles before coming off 3-1 winners over Singapore.
The losing semi-finalists will play the bronze medal in the morning while India will take on Malaysia for the gold medal match later in the evening.
India were the first to reach final in the morning. The top seeds grabbed the first point through their mixed doubles Satwik Rankireddy-Ashwini Ponnappa who needed 42 minutes for their 22-20, 21-18 win over Terry Hee Yong Kai-Crystal Wong Jia Ying.
K. Srikanth garnered the second point with a 21-17, 21-14 win over Loh Kean Yew in 37 minutes but Singapore reduced the deficit when Satwik Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty fell to a 21-17, 19-21, 12-21 defeat to Terry Hee Yong Kai-Danny Bawa Chrisnanta in 53 minutes.
India, however, overcame the setback with former world number one Saina Nehwal storming to a 21-8, 21-15 win over Yeo Jia Min in 38 in the women’s singles for the winning point.
Malaysia had no trouble against the English although Soniia Cheah was full stretched in the women’s singles for Malaysia’s second point. Soniia toiled for 67 minutes before securing a 21-17, 15-21, 21-18 win over Chloe Birch in the battle of Commonwealth Games debutants.
Earlier, Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong romped home to a 21-9, 21-11 win over Chris Langridge-Marcus Ellis for the first point.
Lee Chong Wei delivered Malaysia’s winning point – defeating Rajiv Ouseph 21-18, 21-16 in the men’s singles in 47 minutes.BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
