MATCH PREDICTION: Sindhu to triumph over Marin but the Hunters will scrape through for a win
PREMIER BADMINTON LEAGUE is back with its second edition, kick-starting on 1st January 2017. And it promises be more thrilling and exciting. The opening match is the most awaited by all Indian badminton fans as they will finally get to witness PV Sindhu and Carolina Marin against each other in their own city.
Hyderabad will be the host for the opening matches. An advantage for the home team but one will have to see who would they support when Sindhu plays Marin.
Both the teams have a balanced side and are strong contenders for the title but a tad bit advantage the Hunters hold over Smashers. The Trump is still there, where each team strategically selects one of the 5 matches that they play in a Tie. Winning Trump matches gives the respective bonus point (instead of the usual one, it's two points) and in case the team loses, they get minus one.
The big change that has come this year is the new points system. Instead of the 15 point game we saw last season, it's down to 11 points which will make it more tricky and challenging for the players and exciting for the fans.
TFG analyses and predicts the winner of the match based on a possible line-up of players, as the teams have to announce their team and Trump match only an hour before the game.
HYDERABAD HUNTERS vs CHENNAI SMASHERS
The following shuttlers are likely to play against each other in their respective categories; Men's singles: Rajeev Ouseph (Hyderabad) vs Parupalli Kashyap (Chennai); Women's singles: Carolina Marin (Hyderabad) vs PV Sindhu (Chennai); Men's doubles: Tan Boon Heong/ Tan Wee Kiong (Hyderabad) vs Mads Pieler Kolding/Sumeeth Reddy (Chennai); Mixed doubles: Tan Wee/Chau Hoi Wah (Hyderabad) vs Chris/Gabrielle Adcock (Chennai).
It remains to be seen which matches each team will nominate as their Trump match.
Though the Smashers will put out a tough fight in their first encounter, the Hunters hold the upper hand and are likely to begin their campaign on a winning note.
Now let's take a look at how the Hunters will make this possible.
