Chinese Taipei and India scored comfortable victories against strong opponents yesterday to get their campaigns off to a sound start at the ROBOT Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2017 in Ho Chih Minh City.
Chinese Taipei, minus spearhead Tai Tzu Ying, eased to a 4-1 win over Hong Kong in Group A. The win 
was set up by Men’s Doubles pair Lee Jhe-Huei/Lee Yang, who rolled over Or Chin Chung/Tang Chun Man 21-14 21-10 in just 25 minutes.
Chiang Mei Hui surprised Hong Kong’s Cheung Ngan Yi after coming from 8-15 and 16-19 down in the third game of their Women’s Singles battle. Chou Tien Chen then clinched the winning point for a 3-0 lead beating Ng Ka Long in Men’s Singles 21-14 21-19.
Hong Kong suffered further misery as Poon Lok Yan/Tse Ying Suet fell in their Women’s Doubles encounter to Hsu Ya Ching/Wu Ti Jung in three games. Lee Chun Hei/Chau Hoi Wah earned a consolation point for Hong Kong beating Wang Chi-Lin/Lee Chia Hsin 21-15 18-21 21-18 in Mixed Doubles.
India, despite missing stars like Kidambi Srikanth, Saina Nehwal and Pusarla V Sindhu, was strong enough to trounce Singapore 4-1 in Group D.
Singapore had a great start, with Terry Hee/Tan Wei Han clinching the opening Mixed Doubles over Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy 23-21 21-17.
Singapore though couldn’t make any further headway as the in-form Men’s Singles prospect Sameer Verma overwhelmed Loh Kean Yew 21-9 21-16 in 34 minutes.
Manu Attri/Sumeeth Reddy consolidated in Men’s Doubles with a 29-minute win over Danny Bawa Chrisnanta/Hendra Wijaya 21-12 21-17. Young Women’s Singles prospect Rituparna Das (featured image) impressed on the big stage beating Liang Xiaoyu 23-21 21-18.
Ashwini Ponnappa/Sikki Reddy then completed the job for India, winning the Women’s Doubles over Ong Ren-Ne/Crystal Wong 19-21 21-17 21-17.
Japan, Thailand and Indonesia scored 5-0 wins over Vietnam, Philippines (both Group C) and Sri Lanka (Group B) respectively.
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