Shillong, Feb 7 (IANS) The Indian men and women’s shuttlers entered the semi-finals in their respective events dismissing their opponents at will for the second day on the trot here on Sunday.
The Indian men shuttlers have set up a mouth watering semi-final clash with Pakistan, while the women’s side will take on Bangladesh in the round of four.
Indian women’s team, comprising of P.V. Sindhu, Ruthvika Shivani, Ashwani Ponnappa, P.C. Thulasi, K Maneesha and Sikki Reddy, raced to a 3-0 win over lowly-ranked Nepal who could hardly put up a semblance of a fight.
Sindhu launched the proceedings for India beating Sara Devi Tamang 21-2, 21-8. Her smashes were too hot to handle for the young Nepalese who had no choice but to wait for the inevitable.
The tall, agile and crafty Indian dismissed her opponent with absolute ease even as a lively crowd put all its weight behind the Indian star.
Shivani went past her rival 21-6, 21-2 in the second game.
The crowd was ready with a loud cheer for the doubles duo of Sindhu and Ponnappa. The stands reverberated with chants of “India India” and even “Sindhu-Sindhu” as they made merry on the court.
The duo closed the game 21-10, 21-8.
Later in the last session, India beat Afghanistan 3-0 to book the semi-final berth which was a mere formality.
The Indian men’s side too had it easy against Afghanistan who went down 0-3. The Indian men’s side had beaten Maldives and Bangladesh on Saturday.
In other matches of the day, the Sri Lankan women beat Bangladesh 3-0 and Pakistan women beat Maldives 3-0.
Later in the evening session, Bangladesh women beat Pakistan 3-0.
In the men’s event, Sri Lanka and Pakistan fought fiercely, especially the one between Sri Lanka’s Sachin Dias and Pakistan’s Murad Aliq.
Dias beat Aliq 25-23, 15-21, 21-15 even as Lanka went on to win 3-0 and earn a semis berth.
Second best side in Group B, Pakistan also proceeded ahead.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh men’s team beat Maldives 3-0 to make the semis cut.