Commonwealth Games: India paddlers shine in first round

Indian paddlers opened their Commonwealth Games campaign on a winning note with the men's team thrashing Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 while the women also completed a 3-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka here on Thursday.

Amalraj Anthony opened India's win with a 11-5, 3-11, 11-2, 14-12 win over Dexter St. Louis in the first men's singles tie before Sathiyan Gnanasekaran doubled the lead for India with a 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 thrashing of Aaron Wilson.

Already 2-0 up, Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan teamed up to beat Yuvraaj Dookram and Aaron Wilson 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 in the men's doubles match making it 3-0 in favour of the Indians.

Earlier, star woman paddler Manika Batra gave India the lead with an easy 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 win over Erandi Warusawithana in the first singles match.

Sutirtha Mukherjee then doubled the lead with a 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 verdict over Ishara Badu in the second singles tie.

Sutirtha then teamed up with Pooja Sahasrabudhe to beat Badu and Hansani Kapugeekiyana 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 in the doubles match to seal victory.

--IANS

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