It was a happy day for Pune Pistons gaining a victory against Krrish Delshi Smashers. Doubles specialist Ashwini Ponnappa guided Pune Pistons to a thrilling 3-2 victory against hosts Krrish Delhi Smashers in the opening match Indian Badminton League (IBL) which started with a short but vibrant opening ceremony at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here today.
Pune Pistons
After a pulsating and energetic half-an-hour opening ceremony, India intensifying player B Sai Praneeth and World number seven Tien Ming Nguyen from Vietnam started with full confidence for the competition as they clashed in the men’s singles match.
famous shuttler Praneeth earned the first blood for Delhi as he notched up a stunning 21-16 21-20 triumph win over Tien Minh but the hosts lost the lead when Pune’s Julaine Schenk of Germany notched up an easy 21-15 21-6 over Nichaon Jindapon of Thailand in the second game and brought back the Pistons at 1-1. However, as anticipated world number two Malaysian combo of Kien Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan gave Delhi Smashers the go ahead once again when they sent packing the Indian pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas 21-13 21-16 in the men’s doubles match.
World number 36 Sourabh Verma then eked out a thrilling 21-16 19-21 11-5 victory over H S Prannoy, ranked 46, in the second men’s singles to brought Pune Pistons back into the hunt, making it 2-2. In the decider, former women doubles combination of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who won India’s second bronze in 2011 World Championship, then took the game in but as rivals, on behalf of their respective franchises Delhi and Pune.
It turned out to be an exhilarating and thrilling clash but it was Ashwini and Joachim Fischer Nielsen who held their nerves to surpass Jwala and Kien Keat Koo 21-19 16-21 11-3 in a hard-fought battle for supremacy.
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