Minions Unstoppable, Beat India's Representative In Tokyo Olympics Group A Stage Two

Minions (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Men's double Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon secured their second win on Monday while increasing their chances of progressing from the Group A preliminary phase at the Tokyo Olympics.

The world's number one pair beat India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty with two straight games 21-13, 21-12 in a match for 32 minutes.

"We have been ready from the start. We have prepared everything and don't want to lose focus on chasing points," Marcus said as quoted by Antara from the BWF official website, Monday.

The pair nicknamed Minions started the first game by immediately opening the attack. The speed and accuracy of the punches are the mainstay of Kevin/Marcus picking up points in the first game.

But that doesn't mean Rankireddy/Chirag won't fight back. The Minions were repeatedly overwhelmed by the crosses from the 10th-ranked men's doubles.

"We started well in the first and second games. In the second we were 6-3 up and in control, but somehow we messed up and they (Minions) played better. From there we lost the initiative and frustrated us." said Shetty.

The increasingly fierce competition made Rankireddy/Chirag depressed and tried to fight back until a score chase ensued.

However, entering the second interval of the second game, the Minions practically controlled the game. Minions made several punches to the advantage of the opponent, but it became a minor thing which was then rewarded with additional points being chased.

"They became stronger from the start. Their service was very good today, we couldn't overcome it. We've tried to find a gap, but it ended up like the previous game. We couldn't get out of pressure," concluded Rankireddy.

In the final match in the men's doubles Group A preliminary phase, Tuesday, Kevin/Marcus will face Taiwanese pair Yang Lee/Chi-Lin Wang.