NEW DELHI: Shuttlers PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth made winning starts in their women's and men's singles badminton campaign, whereas the mixed doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna advanced to the quarterfinal. These were the only winners in India's Olympic contingent on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro.
Sindhu marked the start of badminton at the Games with a facile win in the women's individual competition. She brushed aside her opponent Laura Sarosi of Hungary 21-8, 21-9, starting off on a superb note and managing to hold onto the advantage.
London Games bronze-medallist Saina also started her campaign on a resounding note, seeing off the Brazil's Lohaynny Vicente challenge 21-17, 21-17 in straight games in the Group G match. Capping off a successful day for Indian shuttlers was Srikanth, who registered a straight-set win against Mexico's Lino Munoz (21-11, 21-17) in his first ever Olympics match.
At the Olympic Hockey Centre in Deodoro Park, India progressed to the men's hockey quarter-finals for the first time since 1980 Moscow Games, even after a 1-2 defeat to the world No 2, Netherlands. After the completion of round four, Indian team is at third spot in the standings with six points, four points behind leaders the Netherlands and Germany and a point ahead of Argentina. India booked the knock-out spot, since fifth placed Ireland won't be able to overtake them anymore with just a game left in the group stage.
Sindhu marked the start of badminton at the Games with a facile win in the women's individual competition. She brushed aside her opponent Laura Sarosi of Hungary 21-8, 21-9, starting off on a superb note and managing to hold onto the advantage.
London Games bronze-medallist Saina also started her campaign on a resounding note, seeing off the Brazil's Lohaynny Vicente challenge 21-17, 21-17 in straight games in the Group G match. Capping off a successful day for Indian shuttlers was Srikanth, who registered a straight-set win against Mexico's Lino Munoz (21-11, 21-17) in his first ever Olympics match.
At the Olympic Hockey Centre in Deodoro Park, India progressed to the men's hockey quarter-finals for the first time since 1980 Moscow Games, even after a 1-2 defeat to the world No 2, Netherlands. After the completion of round four, Indian team is at third spot in the standings with six points, four points behind leaders the Netherlands and Germany and a point ahead of Argentina. India booked the knock-out spot, since fifth placed Ireland won't be able to overtake them anymore with just a game left in the group stage.
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