Rediffmail Money rediffGURUS BusinessEmail

Indian shuttlers start well

March 19, 2003 16:29 IST

India began their campaign in the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament with an easy 4-1 victory over Austria, at Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Tuesday.

India is placed in Group 3A along with Austria, Bulgaria and Wales for the March 18-24 tournament.

In the other match of the day, Bulgaria upset Wales 3-2 in spite of the latter's strong singles players, Irwansyah and Kelly Morgan.

India will face Bulgaria on Wednesday in the match to decide the group winner.

Jaseel P Ismail and B R Meenakshi gave India winning start, defeating Harald Koch and Tina Riedl 11-0, 11-8 in the mixed doubles.

But Austrian Juergen Koch shocked India's leading player Abhinn Shyam Gupta 15-10, 15-5 in the men's singles to level the score.

India No. 1 Aparna Popat ran through Simone Prutsch 11-6, 11-2 in the women's singles to put her team up 2-1.

India then wrapped up the match with both their doubles combinations winning easily.

Markose Puthenp Bristow and Rupesh Kumar got better of Juergen Koch and Harald Koch 17-14, 13-15, 15-9 in the men's match while in the women's doubles, Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian defeated Simone Prutsch and Tina Riedl 11-3, 11-4.

India No. 1 Pulella Gopichand is leading the 13-member Indian team. The other members are: Chetan Anand, Marcose Bristow, Rupesh Kumar, Jaseel P. Ismail, Abhinn Shyam Gupta, Aparna Popat, B R Meenakshi, Jwala Gutta, Shruti Kurian, Trupti. Murgunde.

The coaches are S.M. Arif and Vimal Kumar

MORE FROM REDIFF

WEB STORIES

What Makes Oppo K14 Lite Stand Out

10 Unforgettable Monsoon Moments

What Samsung Galaxy A07s Offers

VIDEOS

NEWS BUSINESS MOVIES CRICKET SPORTS GET AHEAD REDIFF-TV REDIFF ASTRO MOBILE RECHARGE BILL PAYMENTS