Guwahati: HS Prannoy, Sourabh Verma and World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying registered comfortable victories to hand Ahmedabad Smash Masters their first win of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) season 3 at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.
Taking the field as the Masters’ Trump player Tai Tzu Ying not just whipped the Warriors’ Michelle Li (Canada) 15-6, 15-10 in the women’s singles to give her side a 2-1 lead, but also added one more point to make it 3-1 after the end of three fixtures.
World No. 10 Prannoy then maintained his undefeated record in the PBL since the last season, putting aside World No. 11 Tzu Wei Wang (Taiwan), his eighth successive victory in the League.
North East Warriors did get back late into the match with victories in the mixed and men’s doubles category, which also included a trump victory to decrease the defecit to 3-4 loss in the end.
The Indian-South Korean duo of Prajakta Sawant & Shin Baek Cheol downed Kamilla Juhl (Denmark) & Lee Chun Hei Reginald (Hong Kong) 15-13, 15-13 to earn the Warriors’ first win of the match before Shin Baek Cheol & Kim Gi Jung beat Lee Reginald & Law Cheuk Him 15-8, 15-11 to sum off a late comeback for the home team.
Earlier Sourabh Verma tamed compatriot Pratul Joshi 15-10, 15-7 in the Men’s Singles to cap off a first win for the Ahmedabad Smashers.
Facing the World No. 104 Sourabh did not have to stretch much before locking the first game in barely over 20 minutes. He was more dominant in the second game, clinching off the victory in less than 15 minutes.
Prannoy on the other hand was equally confident, defending brilliantly while also frustrating Tzu Wei with his clever returns. He surged ahead with utter dominance standing at 8-4, before building on the lead to win the first game 15-10.
Tzu Wei however bounced back in the second game fighting on equal terms with Prannoy. He even led 12-9 at one stage and stood on the brink of win standing at 14-10. But not the one let go a win, Prannoy retuned in style claiming all the next five points to win the second set 15-14.
FINAL RESULTS:
Men’s Singles: Sourabh Verma bt Pratul Joshi 15-10, 15-7
Mixed Doubles: Kamilla Juhl & Lee Chun Hei Reginald lost to Prajakta Sawant & Shin Baek Cheol 13-15, 13-15
Women’s Singles: Tai Tzu Ying (T) bt Michelle Li 15-6, 15-10
Men’s Singles: Prannoy HS bt Tzu Wei Wang 15-10, 15-14
Men’s Doubles: Shin Baek Cheol & Kim Gi Jung beat Lee Reginald & Law Cheuk Him 15-8, 15-11