Badminton minnows Nepal were easy meat for Malaysian in their 16 encounter at the Gyeyang Gymnasium on the first day of the badminton competition in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea on Saturday.
The Himalayan nation 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.
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.
Soong Fie Cho-Amelia Alicia Anscelly together with Lim Yin Lo-Woon Khe Wei did not take to the court as the tie was decided over the best of five.
India also cleared their first hurdle 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.
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 cout with a 21-6, 21-17 over Zhang Zhibo-Wang Rong in the doubles.
India’s opponents in the quarter-finals are Thailand.
