Indian shuttlers bow out in team event

The Indian shuttlers' fine run in the mixed team event of the Commonwealth Games came to a halt when they were beaten 3-2 by New Zealand in a keenly-contested match on Sunday.

Pulella Gopichand and Aparna Popat won their respective singles matches, but India lost all the three doubles encounters to see their medal hopes being dashed.

New Zealand advanced to a semi-final clash with Singapore.

The Indian mixed doubles pair of Thomas Sanave and Jwala Gutta lost to the team of Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten Peterson 4-7, 4-7, 2-7 to give New Zealand an early advantage.

But Gopichand and Popat won their singles matches comfortably to give India 2-1 lead. Gopi beat Nick Hall 7-4, 7-2, 7-1 while Popat carved out a fluent 7-0, 7-1, 7-0 victory against Rebecca Gordon.

In a heart-breaking five-game men's doubles match, Gopi and V Diju went down 1-7, 3-7, 7-1, 7-3, 0-7 to Daniel Shirley and John Gordon.

In the deciding match, Rhona Robertson and Tammy Jenkins wrapped up the tie for New Zealand, beating Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurien 7-1, 4-7, 7-1, 1-7, 7-4.

The Kiwis joined England, Scotland and Singapore in the semi-finals and assured themselves at least a bronze medal.