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Smashers to take on Rockets in final

Premier Badminton League : Saina-led Warriors lose both trump games to make exit
Last Updated 13 January 2017, 18:58 IST

 Riding on PV Sindhu's emphatic win over Saina Nehwal, Chennai Smashers defeated Awadhe Warriors 4-1 to storm into the final of Premier Badminton League here.

In front of a vociferous crowd, Sindhu and Saina played out a thrilling contest. The match lived every bit of the hype but Sindhu, with the success at the Rio Olympics behind her, looked in devastating touch as she got the better of former World No 1 and compatriot Saina.

Smashers will now meet the Mumbai Rockets in the final on Saturday.
Rockets beat Hyderabad Hunters, 3-(-1) wiithin two matches. Opening with the trump match, Hunters were shocked when their Olympic Gold medallist Carolina Marin lost to Sung Ji Hyun 11-6, 6-11, 5-11 in the women’s singles. It reduced the Hyderabad side’s score to -1.

HS Prannoy, playing the trump match for Rockets, quelled the challenge of Sameer Verma 11-8, 15-13 to end the tie.

Earlier, Smashers were down 1-2 when Sindhu, appearing for their trump match, took the court against India’s iconic player and put them ahead 3-2 with an impressive 11-7, 11-8 victory. The 21-year-old, whose game has gone notches up with the Olympic silver medal, dominated from the start.

Saina, returning from a knee injury, fought till the end but fell short against against an improved and confident Sindhu.

Still, it was a quality contest between India’s two Olympic medallists.
In a keenly fought opening game, Saina took a slender lead at the interval before Sindhu, exhibiting variety in her shots and new found aggression broke away from 7-7 to seize an early initiative.

Saina fought back in the second game with few sublime returns, but Sindhu never conceded the lead. She grabbed match point with an inside out smash and sealed it with a drop shot.

Smashers now ahead 3-2, then turned the match on its head when their men’s doubles pair of Chris Adcock and Mads Pieler Kolding beat V Shem Goh and Markis Kido 11-3, 12-10, in what was the trump match for Warriors.

Earlier, Warriors’ Thai pair of Bodin Issara and Savitree Amitrapai beat Chris and Gabby Adcock 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 in the opening match.

Parupalli Kashyap, then drew parity with an 11-4, 11-6 victory over an erratic Vincent Wong Wing Ki. K Srikanth gave Warriors the important 2-1 lead with 14-12, 11-7 victory over Tommy Sugiarto.

Results: Chennai Smashers bt Awadhe Warriors 4-1: Mixed Doubles: Chris Adcock/ Gabby Adcock lt to Bodin Issara/ Savitree Amitrapai 11-9, 8-11, 5-11. Men’s singles: Parupalli Kashyap bt Vincent Wong Wing Ki 11-4, 11-6; Tommy Sugiarto lt K Srikanth 12-14, 7-11. Women’s singles (Trump match for Smashers): PV Sindhu bt Saina Nehwal 11-7, 11-8. Men’s doubles (Trump match for Warriors): Chris Adcock/ Mads Pieler Kolding bt V Shem Goh and Markis Kido 11-3, 12-10.

Mumbai Rockets bt Hyderabad 3-(-1): Women’s singles (Trump match for Hyderabad Hunters) Sung Ji Hyun bt Carolina Marin 6-11, 11-6, 11-5. Men’s singles: (Trump match for Mumbai Rockets) HS Prannoy bt Sameer Verma 11-8, 15-13.

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(Published 13 January 2017, 18:58 IST)

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