Paris Olympics: Satwik and Chirag top group with emphatic win

PARIS: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy their fine run at the Olympics as they advanced to the quarterfinals of men's doubles as Group badminton arena here. contender to go all the way, was on song from the word go as they outclassed Indonesians Alfian Fajar and Ardianto Muhammad Rian 21-13, 21-13 in 40 minutes.
It was another light workout for Satwik-Chirag as they get ready for the tougher competitions ahead at the business end of the tournament.
It could have been three good workouts for the Indian pair but for the late pull out by Markus Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel on Sunday. The Germans were forced to exit after the former went down with a knee injury. Earlier, the Indian combo beat France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in their opener.
Such was their domination against the World No. 7 pair that the Indians won the first game in 16 minutes. They built on that in the second game and didn't put a foot wrong. The Indonesians tried to make a match of it in the second and forced longer rallies, the longest of the match lasting 27 strokes.
But the Indonesians couldn't stop the Indians from taking a big lead as they ran an eight-point lead in both the games. The Indians allowed their rivals to be in the contest only till the halfway stage in both the games and from there on it was the Indians who dictated terms. Despite the defeat Fajar and Rian also advanced to the last eight as Group C runners-up.