New Delhi: Extraordinary performances by both World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Malaysia’s Chen Wei Feng helped Bengaluru Blasters decimate Delhi Dashers 5-2 in their opening match of the third Premier Badminton League (PBL) at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Thursday.
While World Championships gold medalist Axelsen eased past Chinese Tian Houwei 15-11 15-11, World No. 45 Wei Feng stunned 15th ranked Wing Ki Wong Vincent of Hong Kong 10-15 15-13 15-8 to put the Blasters in the driver’s seat at the end of three matches.
The match looked an one sided affair in the opening set with Vincent holding onto to a healthy lead of four points for most part of the game and although Feng came closest to decreasing the defecit to just two points standing at 10-12, it was over as the 27-year-old from Hong Kong ran way with the opening set.
Malaysian Chen soon bounced back on the second set, despite being down with two points standing at 6-8. But after restoring parity at 12-12, the Wei Feng roared back into the contest as Vincent kept on hitting it long.
The decider was a one way affair with Wei Chen Feng dominating the proceedings to take a 6-1 lead. But Hong Kong’s Vincent bounced back with three successive points to go with a 8-4 lead at the break. The 15th ranked shuttler could however collect just one point as play resumed with the Malaysian running riot to win both the set and pocket the game.
Earlier playing their first match in the competition, Bengaluru Blasters began with a win after the Indo-Korean pair of N Sikki Reddy and Kim Sa Rang defeated the duo of Aswini Ponnappa and Ivanov Vladimir 15-10 12 -15 15-11 in the mixed doubles match
Delhi who had began their campaign with a 4-1 loss to Mumbai Rockets in their opener, came back strongly after going 0-2 down. World No. 6 Sung Ji Hyun overcame the 16th ranked Kristy Gilmour 15-10, 8-15, 15-5 in a gritty battle to open the Dashers’ account. Not only did she earn Delhi’s fist point but gave them one more after winning her trump match.
The home side had hopes of making a comeback standing at 2-2, but Dubai Super Series finals champion Axelsen washed aside all such hopes with a convincing win, rendering the fifth and match last match of the evening, inconsequential.
The Odense-born shuttler controlled the proceedings right from the start never letting the Chinese Tian Houwei settle into the match, with some powerful smashes from the net.
“Tian is a very good player and it was really close though it was in straight games. It was our trump match and I was expected to play at a higher level and I am happy to do that,” said the Dane after the match.