MATCH REPORT: Hyderabad Hunters win Trump match to edge out Bengaluru Top Guns
HYDERABAD HUNTERS began their campaign on a winning note in the Premier Badminton League (PBL) by eking out a narrow 3-2 victory over the Bengaluru Top Guns in the first match of the second day at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) stadium in Mumbai.
The Hunters began their campaign on a losing note in their women's singles match as Supanida lost 8-15, 11-15 to Suo Di of Bengaluru. Suo Di won the first set with ease, not giving the Hyderabad shuttler a room to get back in the set. In the second set though, Supanida made a comeback leading 10-7 at one point. This brought some roar and cheer among the Hyderabad team but that did not last for long. Suo Di swiftly got back to lead in the set for the first time at 11-10. From then it was no looking back for Suo Di. She won the set and the match 15-11.
“It was a tough match undoubtedly. I won the first game comfortably and I was expecting her to give a tough fight in the second game. She came back strong but I kept a hold on my play and did not allow her to take the game which would have meant the third game would have been the decider. This win will help us in the next four games and I am happy that I stood upto the expectations of my team," said Suo Di after her win.
The next match was a Trump game for Hyderabad Hunters in the men's doubles contest. Kido/Mogensen of Hyderabad won the first Trump match of the league 13-15, 15-9, 15-14 against Lim/How of Bengaluru. In the first set, the Hyderabad pair was struggling to find a rhythm in the game losing a neck-to-neck game 13-15.
The level of the contest rose as the Hyderabad pair knew that the second set was their last chance to stay alive in the game. They did that and won it 15-9. The match went onto the decider and both the pairs fought hard to win the set and the match.
But the former world no. 1 pairing proved their worth on the court by winning the much needed tie to keep the Hunters alive in the match. Kido/Mogensen won the final set 15-14 and the crucial Trump match to put the Hunters in the lead by 2-1.
The first men's singles match of the day was between Kashyap of Hyderabad and Sameer Verma of Bengaluru. Kashyap won the match 15-14, 15-13. The Top Guns surprisingly chose this as their trump match and the pressure on Verma was felt early on in the game. But to everyone's surprise, Verma did put up a good fight against the top shuttler.
The 2015 Tata Open India International Challenge winner displayed a neck-to-neck match though he was trailing 2-8 against Kashyap. But Kashyap clearly showed who is the top shuttler winning the set 15-14. Sameer again put up a decent fight in the second set but ended up losing it and the match. Since it was a Trump match that he lost, Hyderabad lost one point.
This put Hyderabad in a strong position for their first victory in the league.
The next match was the mixed doubles contest between Jwala Gutta/Markis Kido of Hyderabad who lost 13-15, 13-15 against Joachim Fischer/Ashwini Ponnappa of Bengaluru.
The Bengaluru pair showed the understanding required in the game and contributed well together as a team. Though both the sets were tough contests, the Top Guns duo were just too good as they knew each other's game well. This helped them win the set and the match over the Hyderabad pair.
The final match and the most awaited one, the men's singles between Lee Chong Wei of Hyderabad and Srikanth of Bengaluru saw the latter win a tough three-setter 15-12, 6-15, 15-7. Lee Chong began the first set with a comfortable lead which then was taken away by Srikanth who won the first set 15-12.
The world champion got back in the game by winning the second set, clearly showing his class. In the final set, however, Srikanth took an early lead of 7-2 which he maintained throughout and went onto win the set and the match. The Indian shuttler displayed strong character to beat the Chinese for the first time.
Despite the win, Hyderabad Hunters edged past the Top Guns 3-2 on the back of two points gained from winning their Trump match and denying the Bengaluru team a win in their Trump match.
