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What’s the story?
2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Saina Nehwal will lead India against Sri Lanka in India’s first group assignment in the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia on Thursday.
World No. 3 PV Sindhu, who won a bronze medal at the Glasgow Games in 2014, will not feature in this Group A tie.
In case you didn’t know
Sindhu was India’s flag-bearer in the opening ceremony as the Gold Coast Games got under way on Wednesday. This was the first time a shuttler led the parade after the honour went to a member of the shooting contingent the last three times.
The heart of the matter
Since India have two assignments on Day 1 of the Commonwealth Games 2018, it is possible that Sindhu will be given the responsibility of leading the team in the second tie against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka are not expected to pose much of a threat against the star-studded Indian squad. Nehwal will face Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwalage, who does not have any active world ranking.
World No. 2 Kidambi Srikanth will lock horns with the unheralded Niluka Karunaratne in men’s singles. The top Indian men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be present and so will the top Indian women’s doubles combine of Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa.
There will be a slight change in mixed doubles as Reddy will not be in action. In her place, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will be pairing up with Pranaav Jerry Chopra.
What’s next?
India will play against Sri Lanka at 9am local time (4.30am IST) on Thursday. Later in the day, they will take on Pakistan at 7pm local time (2.30pm IST).
Author’s take
After doing her duty at the opening ceremony late in the evening, Sindhu will be needing proper rest before appearing in any of the matches. It is thus an absolutely wise decision not to overburden her and instead, give her the time to be fresh for her match.
