England had to fight hard for their 3-0 victory, particularly in the mixed and men’s doubles. India’s top singles player Parupalli Kashyap lost his match against Rajiv Ouseph in straight games at the Emirates Arena late Sunday.
Chris Adcock was England’s star performer, having a fair share in winning both the doubles. He first won the mixed double with wife Gabriel and then paired up with Andrew Ellis to take the men’s doubles, both matches going into decisive third game.
The Adcocks looked like running away with their match when they took the first game 21-16 and led 15-8 in the second against Jwala Gutta and Akshay Dewalkar. But the Indians fought back to take 12 of the next 13 points to force a decider.
Kashyap was up against a fighting Ouseph, who had a tougher second game but pulled it off 21-16, 21-19.
Adcock was back on court, this time for the men’s doubles with Ellis against Dewalkar and Pranaav Chopra.
The Indians took the first game 21-12 but Adcock and Ellis rallied brilliantly to take the second at 13, one particular rally going to 82 strokes. The English partners steadied themselves to take the decider 21-16.
England have not lost a match in the competition.
Ouseph was the only English player who played at the New Delhi Games four years ago and thinks his team can beat defending champions Malaysia.
Malaysia had to go all the way to overcome Singapore 3-2.
Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon and Lai Pei Jing had to come from behind to edge out Danny Chrisnanta and Vanessa Neo 17-21, 21-12, 21-14 in a thriller for the winning point.
Men’s doubles pair Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem put Malaysia ahead beating Danny Chrisnanta and Chayut Triyachart 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 but Singapore levelled the score when Xiayou Liang beat Tee Jing Yi in straight sets, 21-12, 22-20.
Chong Wei Feng, who came in for injured Lee Chong Wei as the top men’s singles player, restored Malaysia’s lead by beating Derek Wong, 21-9, 21-18.
However, Singapore levelled yet again when their women’s doubles pair Shinta Mulia Sari and Lei Yao beat Woon Khe Wei and Vivian Hoo 9-21, 18-21.
Eventually, it was left Peng Soon and Pei Jing to eke out the decisive victory.