India created history on Monday by defeating defending champions Malaysia to win its first-ever Commonwealth Games badminton mixed team gold medal on the Gold Coast.
The mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa came back from an 8-12 deficit, scoring seven points in a row to take a 15-12 lead in the decider against Malaysia’s Rio Olympic silver medalists Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying. The Indian pair eventually won 21-14, 15-21, 21-15.
World No. 2 Kidambi Srikanth then extended India’s lead to 2-0. He outlasted three-time Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei in a closely contested match, winning 21-17, 21-14. It was his first win over the Malaysian icon in five career meetings.
“Perhaps Lee was not at his best but then you can never be too sure against a player like him. You always have to be on your guard, which I was. And I also gave my best. I was not expecting it to be this easy,” said Srikanth.
Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong kept Malaysia’s hopes alive by beating Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty 21-15, 22-20 in men’s doubles, narrowing Malaysia’s deficit to 1-2.
Saina Nehwal Seals the Gold
The 2010 women’s singles gold medalist Saina Nehwal then took the court and did not let the gold medal slip away, despite a spirited fight back from Soniia Cheah of Malaysia.
Nehwal won the first set easily, 21-11. Cheah fought back from a 3-7 deficit in the second set and took a medical break to tape up her bruised fingers. She then clinched four straight points to lead 15-13 and went on to take the set 21-19, forcing a third set.
The world No. 29 Cheah seemed to find a different gear, returning everything Nehwal sent her way. Her game plan of pushing shuttlecocks to the lines at every opportunity nearly paid off, and she led Nehwal 9-8. However, Cheah’s speed and stamina began to fade. Nehwal took full advantage, reeling off 13 straight points to win the third set 21-9 and help India claim the mixed team gold medal.
“It was exhausting, I actually lost focus during the match but thankfully managed to hold it together and ensure that the gold medal winning shot was mine. It is a medal that I will forever cherish, it is very special. Team gold is always way more cherishable,” said Nehwal.
“I don’t think anybody in the team is going to sleep tonight. Maybe I will just relax tomorrow and then think about the singles,” added Nehwal.