India blow away Ghana, Uganda in mixed team badminton

Indian shuttlers launched their Commonwealth Games campaign on a resounding note as they blanked minnows Ghana and Uganda 5-0 in Group B matches of the mixed team event at the 20th edition of the multi-sport event here.
Having thrashed Ghana in their opener, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa crushed M Nankabirwa and D Nakal Yango 2-0 to set the tone against Uganda.
Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Chopra beat E Ekiring and W Tukre 2-0.
P C Thulasi blanked M Nankabirwa 2-0 while K Shrikanth thrashed E Kiring by similar margin in the singles rubbers. V Pusarala and RMV Gurusaidutt also won 2-0 against W Tukire and D Nakal Yango ro complete the rout.

Earlier in the day, India hardly broke any sweat as Parupalli Kashyap started the proceeding, spanking Daniel Sam 21-6 21-16 in a 27-minute men's singles match to put his team in the driver's seat right from the start.
World Championship bronze medallist P V Sindhu then taught Stella Amasah a lesson or two in badminton with a 21-7 21-5 victory in the women's singles competition to give India a 2-0 lead.

Men's doubles pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Chopra thrashed Emmanuel Donkor and Abraham Ayittey 21-7 21-11 in just 22 minutes to make it 3-0 in India's favour.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa then another 17 minutes to brush aside Evelyn Botwe and Diana Archer as India continued their rampaging run.

Finally, P C Thulasi and Kidambi Srikanth -- both singles players -- paired up and trounced another makeshift combination of Sam and Amasah 21-5 21-9 in a mixed doubles match to put an end to Ghana's misery at the Emirates Arena.
India will next take on Uganda.