Singapore moved a step closer towards their first Mixed Team title of the Commonwealth Games by entering the semi-finals yesterday.
Singapore’s impressive 3-0 win over a potentially tricky Australian team in the quarter-finals ensured a last-four place against Malaysia. In the other quarter-finals, India overcame a slight stumble against Canada (3-1), while former champions England breezed past Sri Lanka (3-0).
Singapore outplayed Australia without the loss of a game. Danny Chrisnanta/Vanessa Neo struck the first blow for Singapore in Mixed Doubles, seeing off the challenge of Ross Smith/Renuga Veeran 21-15 21-14.
Derek Wong consolidated in Men’s Singles, dominating Jeff Tho in their 25-minute encounter, 21-7 21-13. The Men’s Doubles was a harder-fought battle, with Chayut Triyachart/Danny Chrisnanta emerging victorious after 36 minutes over Ross Smith/Robbin Middleton, 21-17 21-19.
India made heavy weather of their quarter-final against Canada. New scratch Mixed Doubles pair Srikant Kidambi/Jwala Gutta survived anxious moments against Toby Ng/Alex Bruce before prevailing 21-19 17-21 21-18. Kashyap Parupalli made it 2-0 with a rout of Andrew D’Souza in Men’s Singles (21-11 21-9).
India’s Women’s Singles spearhead PV Sindhu had a 2-0 career record over Michelle Li, but the Canadian
recovered from a first-game deficit to win a tight second game before pulling off the upset: 15-21 22-20 21-17.
Adrian Liu/Derrick Ng gave Canada hope in the Men’s Doubles with a second-game victory, but their opponents Pranaav Chopra/Akshay Dewalkar (above) eventually asserted their superiority (21-15 19-21 21-13) to seal the tie for India.
Defending champions Malaysia suffered an early setback when their Mixed Doubles pair faltered against hosts Scotland. Chan Peng Soon and Lai Pei Jing scrambled past Robert Blair/Imogen Bankier (below) in the first game, but the Scots fought back strongly in the second and third to take the contest 22-24 21-9 21-11.
Chong Wei Feng (featured image), shouldering Men’s Singles responsibilities in place of his illustrious compatriot Lee Chong Wei, held off Kieran Merrilees 21-16 21-14 to restore balance for Malaysia.
Scotland appeared to have the advantage in Women’s Singles as No.17 Kirsty Gilmour had a 2-0 career edge over No.33 Tee Jing Yi. However, the Malaysian turned the tables on her higher-ranked opponent in surprisingly easy fashion, taking just 34 minutes to record a 21-10 21-15 upset. The match swung the advantage decisively in Malaysia’s favour, as their Men’s Doubles pair of Tan Wee Kiong/Goh V Shem was too strong for Martin Campbell/Patrick Machugh, 21-12 21-15.
Like Singapore, England too made the semi-finals without losing a game. Chris Adcock/Gabrielle Adcock struck the first blow for England in Mixed Doubles over Dinuka Karunaratna/Thilini Hendahewa, 21-13 21-10, before Rajiv Ouseph made it 2-0 in Men’s Singles over Niluka Karunaratne (21-15 21-16). Sarah Walker (right) wrapped the tie beating Thilini Hendahewa 21-14 21-14.
Earlier, in the last group ties, Malaysia, Singapore, England and Jersey recorded 5-0 results over Sri Lanka, Norfolk Island, Mauritius and Northern Ireland respectively. South Africa bounced back from a 0-2 deficit against Jamaica to win 3-2.
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