Chennai Smashers beat Awadhe Warriors 4-3 of the Vodafone Premier Badminton League (PBL) at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium.

In the first match of the tie between the teams who already have reached the semi-finals, Vincent Wong Wing Ki beat Tanongsak Saemsomboonsuk of Chennai Smashers 6-11, 11-9, 12-10 in the first match to give an early lead for Awadhe.

Chennai soon equalised as British Adcock couple, Chris and Gabrielle extended their unbeaten run in the league with a 11-4, 11-9 win over inexperienced Bodin Issara and Prajakta Sawant.

Parupalli Kashyap won Chennai’s ‘Trump Match’, beating youngster Aditya Joshi 11-7, 5-11, 11-7 to make it 3-1 for the southern outfit.

Rio Olympic 2016 silver medallist P.V. Sindhu sealed the tie for Chennai as she gave a nice badminton tutorial to Rituparna Das with a 11-4, 11-6 triumph.

Awadhe’s Saina Nehwal decided not to play this match which would have pitted the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist against the double World Championships bronze medallist.

Having already lost the tie, Awadhe managed to win their ‘Trump Match’ as V. Shem Goh and Markis Kido beat Mads Pieler Kolding and B. Sumeeth Reddy 12-10, 11-8 in the men’s doubles match. Despite winning the match, Awadhe lost the tie 3-4.

Despite the win, Awadhe moved to the top of the standings with 21 points from five games, while Chennai remained in the third position with 18 points from five games. Mumbai Rockets are second with 19 points from five matches.

–IANS

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Mumbai Rockets opened their Vodafone Premier Badminton League (PBL) campaign by edging past Hyderabad Hunters 2-1.

Starting the tie, Mumbai’s Lee Yong Dae and Nipithphon Puangpuapech beat Tan Boon Heong and Wee Kiong Tan of Hyderabad 11-9, 11-5 in the men’s doubles clash here on Wednesday.

World No.3 Sung Ji Hyun woman shuttler made it 2-0 for Mumbai as she got the better of World No.2 Carolina Marin 11-7, 7-11, 14-12

British Rajiv Ouseph reduced Chennai’s deficit to 1-2 with an 11-7, 11-8 win over Ajay Jayaram.

But the best of the day was saved in the mixed doubles section, where Hyderabad’s R. Satwiksairaj and Chau Hoi Wah edged past Mumbai’s Lee Yeong Dae and Nadzieda Zieba 11-13, 12-10, 15-14. The match was the ‘Trump Match’ for Mumbai, hence Hyderabad got a point and the hosts lost one.

“It was a big win for me. I have been watching Yong Dae for a long time now, and beating him is a big achievement,” an ecstatic Satwik said after the match.

Leading 2-1, Hyderabad could not tighten the screws as Sameer Verma went down to H.S. Prannoy 6-11, 7-11 in the former’s ‘Trump Match’, ensuring that Mumbai clinch the match 2-1.

–IANS

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