Rio 2016: Shuttler PV Sindhu kicks off campaign with crushing win

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu, who is one of the strong contenders to hand India its first medal at Rio Olympics, kicked off her campaign on a winning note by sweeping aside Hungary's Laura Sarosi in straight games in the first round of the women's singles event here on Thursday.

The 20-year-old debutant, who hails from Hyderabad, remained at her optimum level throughout the match as she thrashed her Hungarian compatriot 21-8, 21-9 at Riocentro- Pavilion.

Sindhu, who became the first-ever Indian woman to win a medal in the World Championships in Guangzhou, will play her next match of the Group M against Canada's Michelle Li on Sunday.

Earlier today, India had a bad start to their badminton campaign as both the women's double pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa and the men's doubles pair of Manu Attri and Sumeeth B. Reddy lost their respective opening matches.

Meanwhile, Saina Nehwal, the bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics,will kick off her Rio campaign when she takes on Brazil's Vicente Lohaynny later in the day.