Sindhu leads Chennai’s win over Hyderabad in PBL

P V Sindhu clinched an exciting Trump match as Chennai Smashers scored a 4-3 win over Hyderabad Hunters in a Premier Badminton League (PBL) clash at the Gachibowli indoor stadium.

Local girl Sindhu beat her Hyderabad rival Supanida K, an experienced player from Thailand, 15-8, 14-15, 15-5 to seal the issue in favour of Chennai.

Twice World Championships bronze medallist Sindhu had a comfortable 15-8 win in the first game, but her Hyderabad rival came back strongly to take the second game 15-14.

Sindhu, however, came back strong and defeated her rival 15-5 in the deciding game to clinch the match in her favour.

Expressing happiness over her win, Sindhu said: “A great match which proved to be a very tough fight. Supanida was good in many areas and played extremely well against me. In the first game, I executed very well and continued to put the pressure on her by winning the game.

“The second game was very tough as she bounced back very strongly. Our intense battle for each point continued in the third game. I re-worked on my game-plan and played added aggression to counter Supanida, which yielded a good win for me.”

The day began with the mixed doubles match between Carsten Mogensen-Jwala Gutta of Hyderabad and Chennai Smashers’ Chris Adcock-Pia Zebadiah. The Chennai pair had a comfortable 15-7, 15-7 victory over their Hyderabad rivals.

Though the spectators lustily cheered local girl and India’s seasoned doubles specialist Jwala Gutta, the Chennai players dominated the proceedings throughout without letting their opponents take any advantage.

Hyderabad secured one point with veteran men’s singles player from Malaysia Lee Chong Wei defeating Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Chennai 15-3, 12-15, 15-8 win over.

Wei had an easy 15-3 win in the first game, but the gritty Chennai player, a seasoned shuttler from Indonesia, gave a stiff resistance and went on to win the second game 15-12. Wei, however, had the last laugh with a 15-8 win in the deciding game.

Lee Chong Wei said: “A very good match and I enjoyed it. First game went as per my game-plans as I managed to dominate the game. Sony Dwi came very strongly in the second game and gave a tough fight to take the game. He surprised me with his attacking skills and quick returns. In the third game, I just kept calm and concentrated on my strategies, which yielded positive result in my favour.”

Hyderabad’s P Kashyap, a Commonwealth gold medallist, disappointed again in the PBL as he lost to Simon Santoso of Chennai 12-15 12-15. It was a clash of equals as both Kashyap and Santoso tried to outsmart each other.

Santoso, a seasoned player from Indonesia, appeared determined not to let his Indian opponent gain an upper hand. The last match of the day — the Trump match of Hyderabad — was the men’s doubles in which Carsten Mogensen-Markis Kido of Hyderabad beat Chris Adcock-Pranav Chopra of Chennai 15-12 15-13.