Asian Games: Sindhu, Nehwal start on winning note

Ace Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal started their campaign on a winning note as they thrashed their respective opponents in the first round of the badminton women's Singles event at the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games.

While Nehwal easily swept aside Iranian shuttler Soraya Aghaeihajiagha 21-7, 21-9 in the opening round of the individual event, Sindhu had to toil hard to get past her Vietnamese opponent Trang Thi Vu.

Thi Vu gave a tough competition to the Indian shuttler but ultimately Sindhu thrashed her counterpart 21-10, 12-21, 23-21 in a match that lasted 58 minutes.

The Rio-Olympic medalist will now take on Mariska Gregoria of Indonesia to cement her spot in the quarter-final of the event.

Nehwal, on the other hand, will face Fitriani Fitriani of Indonesia in her pre-quarters clash.

In women's doubles event, Indian pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy defeated Indonesian duo of Nga Ting Yeung and Wing Yung Ng 21-16, 21-15 to book their pre-quarters berth.

Another Indian women doubles pair of Arathi Sara and Rutaparna Panda also moved to the round of 16 after thrashing Chayanit Chaladchalam and Phataimas Muenwong of Thailand 21-11, 21-6 in the event.

In men's doubles, Indian duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj reached pre-quarters round after defeating Chun Hei Tam and Yonny Chung of Hong Kong 21-12, 21-14 in the event.

Badminton women's Singles quarterfinals are scheduled to be held on August 25.