TEAM PREVIEW: A potent unit, Delhi Acers' men should take them to the final four
FROM THE ERSTWHILE SMASHERS, the Delhi franchise in the upcoming Premier Badminton League (PBL) have now turned Acers. Apart from a new name, the team also sees some great additions in each category. The Delhi Acers, owned by Infinite Computers Solutions, are all geared up to face Awadhe Warriors in their opening match on 4th January.
As compared to other teams in the league, the Acers score heavily in the men's singles category. Ajay Jayaram, Rajiv Ouseph (England) and Tommy Sugiarto (Indonesia) are the shuttlers who will lead the charge. Jayaram had a decent year, winning silver at the Korea Open, and then defended the Dutch Open title succesfully. However, in the last major event of the year, Mexico City GP, the Indian was ousted in the quarter-finals.
With the Dutch Open title:
A happy me :) pic.twitter.com/9anvykWsLX
— Ajay Jayaram (@ajay_289) October 11, 2015
The Englishman won just one title this year at the Swedish Masters (International Challenge) but his overall record and performance as a shuttler has been pretty impressive. The Indonesian too has just one title this year, the Russian Open GP. The World no. 8 is known to cause upsets at crucial times. It will be interesting to see these shuttlers play as a team and watching them live would be an amazing experience for the fans.
Acers too face a problem like some other teams -- lack of top talent in the women's singles category. They have two shuttlers, PC Thulasi and Shikha Gautam. Out of the two, Thulasi is the more experienced one, as Shikha is a junior player. But 24-year-old Thulasi will be put to test when she faces the likes of Saina, Sindhu or the Chinese shuttlers in the league.
The men's doubles and mixed doubles category include Akashay Dewalkar, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong (Malaysia). Koo won the Sri Lanka International Challenge this year with partner Tan Boon Heong. The pair represent Malaysia at major events. This year they returned to the game after they had announced their retirement. The two understand each other's game and it will only boost the confidence of the Acers and hence makes their doubles category strong.
Akashay has the experience of playing in both doubles and mixed doubles. This year he won the doubles title at the Bangladesh International Challenge with partner Pranaav Jerry Chopra.
Winner at bangladesh international challenge! Very good performance by both of us.. Looking forward for the upcoming tournaments.. Let's do it partner!
Posted by Akshay Dewalkar on Saturday, December 5, 2015
In the mixed doubles he plays alongside Pradnya Gadre.
The female shuttlers in the doubles category are Aparna Balan and Gabrielle Adcock. Aparna was the runner-up at the Tata Open India International Challenge along with Arun Vishnu. The pair was also the runner-up at Malayala Manorama All India Senior Ranking Tournament in Cochin. In the All India Senior Ranking Tournament held in Bareilly, she won the mixed doubles title and was the runner-up in the doubles event.
Runner up in Malayala Manorama All India senior ranking tournament held at Cochin pic.twitter.com/yodSb6brww
— Aparna Balan (@aparna_leo) December 23, 2015
Mixed Doubles Winner and Doubles Runner up at All India Senior Ranking tournament held at Baraily pic.twitter.com/oZw19UrLfd
— Aparna Balan (@aparna_leo) December 30, 2015
Gabrielle Adcock is the wife of Chris Adcock and they are known for the achievements in the mixed doubles contest. She won the Dubai SSF mixed doubles title with Chris early this month.
She will play a key role in this category for the Acers. It will be exciting to see whom she partners.
Overall, the Acers will be favourite in the men's singles/doubles and mixed doubles contest; the weak link being in the women's singles category. But if the men get theior act right, match after match, they will be a formidable unit with every chance of reaching the semi-finals.
