India win badminton bronze

Teenage talent Saina Nehwal [ Images ] scored a huge upset over a top-ranked New Zealand [ Images ] player and catapulted India to the bronze medal in the badminton mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games [ Images ] in Melbourne [ Images ] on Monday.

After scaring defending champions England [ Images ] in the semi-finals on Sunday, India rode on the rising starlet's breathtaking form to beat New Zealand 3-1 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

The higher ranked world No. 33 Rebecca Leigh Bellingham had no answer to the aggressive display of the 16-year-old Indian and lost the women's singles match in straight games.

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Earlier, continuing their fine showing in mixed doubles, Jwala Gutta [ Images ] and V Diju eclipsed Adin Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten 21-17, 13-21, 21-9 in the first rubber, in 39 minutes.

But David John Moody rallied to beat national champion Anup Sridhar 11-21, 21-8, 21-19 in a little under 50 minutes to restore parity.

Giant-killer Saina, who had on Sunday caused the downfall of both the defending gold and silver medallists in Singapore's Li Li and Traccey Hallm of England respectively, defeated Rebecca 21-13, 24-22 and put India ahead 2-1.

Saina's powerplay proved too much for her opponent in the first game which she claimed 21-13 in 14 minutes. But the next went to wire.

Saina, at one stage, led 8-2 but Leigh reduced the gap even though she could never overtake the Indian.

Saina led 9-5, then 10-7, 12-9, 14-11, 16-14 and 20-18 before wrapping up the game and the match at 24-22 to give her team a 2-1 lead.

The men's doubles duo of Rupesh Kumar [ Images ] and Sanave Thomas [ Images ] bounced back against Adin Daniel and Craig Cooper after losing the first game 11-21 to wrap up the next two games 21-11, 21-18 and clinch India the bronze.

Top seed Malaysia will take on England in a repeat of the last edition's title contest.