PBL: Chennai Smashers hunt down Hyderabad Hunters

Chennai Smashers' PV Sindhu reacts after winning a point against Supanida K of Hyderabad Hunters during a Premier Badminton League encounter in Hyderabad yesterday

Hyderabad: Star shuttler PV 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 yesterday.


Chennai Smashers' PV Sindhu reacts after winning a point against Supanida K of Hyderabad Hunters during a Premier Badminton League encounter in Hyderabad yesterday. Pic/PTI

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 15-14 in Game Two. Sindhu, however, fought hard and defeated her rival 15-5 in the deciding game to clinch the match in her favour.

Expressing happiness over her win, Sindhu said: "It was a great match. It was a very tough fight. Supanida played extremely well." 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 win. Hyderabad secured a point through Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, who beat Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Chennai 15-3, 12-15, 15-8.

Kashyap disappoints
Hyderabad's P Kashyap, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, disappointed again in the PBL as he lost to Simon Santoso of Chennai 12-15 12-15. 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.