National champions Chetan Anand and Trupti Murgunde led from the front as Indian shuttlers dominated the courts in the 11th South Asian Games, winning both the men's and women's team gold medals at the Wooden Floor Gymnasium on Monday.Up against Sri Lanka in both the men's and women's event, India did not give their opponents any chance and romped home with an identical 3-0 scoreline.
Women's trio of Trupti, Sayali Gokhale and PC Thulasi started the proceedings for India as they earned the first gold, while Anand, RMV Guru Sai Dutt and Aditya Prakash bagged the second gold in the men's category.
Anand gave India the 1-0 lead when he prevailed over Lankan No 1 Niluka Karunaratne 21-12, 21-18.
Lagging behind 9-11 at one stage, Anand pulled up his socks and pocketed the first game conceding just one more point. The strapping Indian completed the formalities in the second game as the match lasted 37 minutes.
RMV Guru Sai Dutt blew away Dinuka Karunaratne 21-8, 21-18 in a battle that lasted for 33 minutes as India continued their march for the second gold in badminton.
Aditya Prakash then thrashed Nuwan Hettiarachchi 21-10, 21-15 in 28 minutes to seal the issue 3-0 as the two doubles teams of Sanave Thomas and Rupesh Kumar and V Diju and Anand did not have to compete.
Earlier in the women's section, Sayali Gokhale sailed past Thilini Jayasinghe 21-4, 21-11 in 23 minutes, while Trupti thrashed Renu C D Hettiarachchige 21-9, 21-13 in a 26-minutes clash.
PC Thulasi beat Achini N Rathnasiri KM 21-13, 21-17 in a 26-minute battle to clinch the issue for India 3-0. Hence, there was no need for the duo of Aparna Balan and Shruti Kurien and Thulasi and Ashwini Ponnappa to take the courts.
In the men's and women's sections, bronze medals were awarded to the Bangladesh and Nepal respectively.
