Bengaluru Raptors wins Premier Badminton League

Bengaluru Raptors became the first team in the Premier Badminton League to win back-to-back titles when it scored a 4-2 win over the first-time finalist North Eastern Warriors, in the fifth Edition final.

Once again, with scores tied two-all, it was a doubles match which decided the fate of the winner. And this time the mixed doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon and Eom Hye Won, playing the Trump match for Raptors lived up to the expectations of the huge number of Bengaluru fans in attendance to get the better of Krishna Prasad Garaga and Kim Ha Na and win the trophy for their team.

Earlier, in the first men's singles match, Sai Praneeth, World Championships bronze medallist and captain of Raptors, came back strongly after losing the first game to outplay world No.18, Lee Cheuk Yiu. It was a performance which should have pleased even World No. 2 and Praneeth’s teammate Tai Tzu Ying. Though he was erratic in the first game, the crowd favorite stepped into a different zone in the next two games, especially after winning a 39-stroke rally point at the start of the second game.

Then in the men’s doubles, Warriors pair of Bodin Isara and Lee Yong Dae, playing their Trump match, had to put their best foot forward to ward off a spirited challenge from Arun George and Rian Agung Saputro to keep their team in the hunt.

In the decider with scores 13-all, Saputro, who was just brilliant right through, faltered with a service error and then messed up a simple net point to hand over the match and a 2-1 overall lead to his opponents on the night. For Raptors, world No. 2 Tai Tzu Ying remained unbeaten in this edition with another dominant display to outsmart world No. 10 Michelle Li. This made the tie's score two-all.

Bengaluru Raptors wins Premier Badminton League

Bengaluru Raptors beat Mumbai Rockets 4-3 in the final of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) in Bengaluru to win their maiden title. Kidambi Srikanth, Vu Ji Trang and men’s doubles pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Satiawan won their matches for Bengaluru Raptors.

Sameer Verma of Mumbai Rockets had fought back in the men's singles tie against B Sai Praneeth to put his team in the hunt but the men's doubles pair of Bengaluru Raptors proved too good for their opponents in the end. Kim Gi Jung and Pia Zebadiah of Mumbai Rockets started the contest by winning the Trump match against Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith of Bengaluru Raptors 15-8 15-14 in the mixed doubles. The victory put Mumbai Rockets 2-0 up after the first tie.

But Kidambi Srikanth had other plans as he thrashed Anders Antonsen of Mumbai Rockets 15-7 15-10 in the men's singles to keep Bengaluru alive. Vu Ji Trang then won her women's singles tie against Shriyanshi Pardeshi in straight games. It was a Trump game for Bengaluru and the victory put them 3-2 ahead in the contest.

However, Sameer Verma registered a come-from-behind victory over B Sai Praneeth to put Mumbai on level terms and send the match into the decider. Bengaluru's men's doubles pair then beat Kim Gi Jung and Lee Yong Dae of Mumbai Rockets 15-13 15-10 in the winners-take-all contest to seal the victory. Bengaluru have become the fifth team after Chennai Smashers, Delhi Dashers, Hyderabad Hotshots and Hyderabad Hunters to win the title.

Hyderabad Hunters won Premier Badminton League Title

Hyderabad Hunters won the third edition of the Premier Badminton League championship with a hard – fought 4-3 win over Bengaluru Blasters in the final. With the match scores tied three-all, the focus shifted to the last match of the evening – mixed doubles. And, to the disappointment of Bengaluru, Kim Sa Rang and N. Sikki Reddy, who played such a big role in the semifinal win, were found wanting losing to R. Satwik sairaj and Pia Zebadiah.

And, to the delight of the vociferous crowd, Satwik and Pia rose to the occasion to ensure a fitting finale. Bengaluru was off to a winning start thanks to the brilliance of veteran Mathias Boe guiding his young partner Kim Sa Rang in the men’s doubles to a fluent win over Markis Kido and Yoo Yeon Seong. At 37, Mathias, former Olympic silver medalist, was too good with his interceptions which effectively nullified the presence of Kido, a doubles legend being former Olympic and World champion.

Later in the first men’s singles, Lee Hyun Il of Hyderabad won the trump match for his side getting the better of Subhanker Dey. The left-hander brought off some amazing smashes and his great acrobatic dives to retrieve almost everything the opponent hit at him. In the second game, Subhanker showed his growing stature in the Indian circuit with a gritty display - mixing his crosscourt smashes and some impressive net dribbles. But it was obvious that he was up against someone who was too good.

For someone who had beaten the reigning World No. 1 last time in 2010 World juniors in four meetings earlier, Praneeth was woefully short of expectations. Nothing went right for him in the face a barrage of stunning smashes and great cross-court returns. The best part of Viktor’s domination was his brilliant backhand which repeatedly tested the World No. 16 and invariably his response was not equal.

The results: Hyderabad Hunters bt Bengaluru Blasters 4-3 (Markis Kido & Yoo Yeon Seong lost to Mathias Boe & Kim Sa Rang 9-15, 10-15; Lee Hyun Il (T) bt Subhankar Dey 15-7, 15-13; B. Sai Praneeth lost to Viktor Axelsen (T) 15-8, 15-10; Carolina Marin bt Kirsty Gilmour 15-8, 15-14; R. Satwiksairaj & Pia Zebadiah bt Kim Sa Rang & N. Sikki Reddy 15-11, 15-12).

Delhi Acers won Premier Badminton League Title

A high octane action coupled with Bollywood Star quotient kept the spectators enthralled in the final of the Premier Badminton League between Delhi Acers and Mumbai Rockets. The city team didn’t disappoint a sizeable crowd at the Siri Fort Sports Complex as it clinched the title beating Mumbai 4-3 in an exciting tie.

Mumbai who entered the final match with a 3-2 lead, saw themselves losing the last match when Delhi’s Rajiv Ouseph playing in his trump match, aside Gurusai Dutt 15-11, 15-6 to power the hosts to title victory. Mumbai mixed doubles pair of former world champion Kamilla Juhl and European champion Vladimir Ivanov which drew the first blood. 2014 World Championship bronze medalist Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia proved that he is a force to reckon with as he maintained his unbeaten record in the league.

There was an intense fight between the duos in the first game as they engaged in long rallies and scored points on smashes. Sugiarto won second and third game against Indian shuttler Prannoy. After the match, Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan entertained the capacity crowd as they took up raquets to play the match along with and against established Badminton stars.

In the beginning of the fourth match, Thulasi seemed to steal the thunder from Li as Delhi Shuttler won the first game 15-12. But she probably invested her entire energy in the first game itself as Li eased past the Delhi shuttler in remaining two games 15-8 and 15-8. In Final match, Ouseph kept Dutt at bay throughout the match and won both the games to hand Delhi title victory in front of home crowd.