K.Srikanth and P. V. Sindhu have qualified for the pre-quarterfinals in the badminton men's and women's singles respectively.
Read: >Mirza/Bopanna outclassed in bronze medal playoff
While, Srikanth won his match with a 21-6, 21-18 victory over Sweden's Henri Hurskainen, Sindhu fought back from one game down to win 19-21, 21-15, 21-17 against Canada's Michelle Li.
Also read: >India's miserable run in Rio Olympics continue
Srikanth dominated the proceedings from the beginning and didn't give his opponent any chance to settle down.
He took the first game 21-6 and seemed in total control.
Hurskainen provided some fight but that wasn't enough as Srikanth took the second game as well to seal the match and qualify.
Saina crashes out of Rio Olympics
India’s disappointing performance at the Rio Olympics continued, as one of its premier athletes and medal prospects, Saina Nehwal, was knocked out of the women’s singles in badminton even before the knockout stage, at the Riocentro Pavilion today.
The former World No. 1 was beaten 21-18, 21-19 by Maria Ultina of Ukraine in the last league match of her three-player group. Saina failed to progress to the pre-quarterfinals, as only one player would advance from each of the 16 groups.
Saina, who won the bronze medal in London 2012 and had made the quarterfinals four years earlier in Beijing, was troubled by a painful knee. She was given a painkiller injection, but it failed to help her beyond a point.
Saina had prepared very well for the Games, but the injury on her right knee, which she had been nursing for some time, did not allow the player to be at her competitive best.
Saina had opened her campaign with a smooth victory, but was quite sluggish on Sunday. She was unable to make a fight of the contest after getting off to a rousing 7-1 start. She was level with Ultina at 17 in the first game and led 17-15 in the second, before the Ukrainian accelerated to the finish.
"I had a knee pain and could not give my best. It was heavily strapped, and I tried my best. My movements were not smooth and were painful. It's heartbreaking loss. I also feel very bad about it," Saina said.
"It happened just before the Olympics about one and half weeks back. It happened during training and got aggravated after coming here," she said.
"She played better but I was not able to move on the court. I tried for improvement but was not successful."
According to Saina's coach, Vimal Kumar, the shuttler had to be administered a dexamethasone injection after the opening round match to curb the pain but it didn't have desired results.
Heartbroken to see his ward lose due to an injury, Vimal said: "I feel very sad for her as she did put in her best efforts in her preparations for this event. Sports at times is very cruel."
Asked how did she suffered the injury, Vimal said: "This comes when you are training hard regularly. Unfortunately for Saina she developed this towards the last week."
"Saina developed more pain on her knee after her first round match and had been administered dexamethasone injection on that day. This is to bring down the inflammation and pain. She has fat pad inflammation of the knee and has been taking treatment one week prior to our departure," he said.
"She herself decided to take the injection after consulting the IOC doctors here and they have given her that in the Olympic village clinic. All the team members are aware of it and not any one in the media. Hoped she would be getting relief from pain today but did not get the desired relief while the injection was taking effect."
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