Hyderabad: Mixed doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and N. Sikki Reddy and Malaysian Daren Liew registered convincing wins over experienced opponents to help Ahmedabad Smash Masters beat Delhi Dashers in the Premier Badminton League at Gachibowli stadium on Wednesday.
The Smash Masters, who had started their fourth season campaign with a convincing 4-1 win over North Eastern Warriors, continued from where they left in Mumbai to win their opening two matches before their skipper Viktor Axelsen suffered a reversal. However, Kristy Gilmour came back after losing the opening game to beat Evgeniya Kosetskaya 12-15, 15-12, 15-7 to inflict second straight loss on Delhi Dashers.
Earlier, Satwik and Sikki, who train at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, put their team on the road to victory when they got the better of Jongjit Maneepong and Lee Chia Hsin 15-11, 15-10.
The all-Indian combination was clearly in control throughout the encounter with Sikki dominating the net exchanges while Satwik scoring valuable points with his smashes.
Liew then put spanner in Delhi Dashers plans as he came up with a scintillating performance to defeat the opponent’s trump, HS Prannoy 15-12, 15-13.
However, Tommy Sugiarto kept the Dashers in the hunt when he upset former world champion Axelsen in the second men’s singles match with a 15-12, 10-15, 15-8 scoreline.
The RESULTS
Mixed doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/ N. Sikki Reddy (ASM) bt Maneepong Jongjit & Lee Chia Hsin (DD) 15-11, 15-10.
Men’s singles: Daren Liew (ASM) bt H. S. Prannoy (DD, Trump) 15-12, 15-13; Viktor Axelsen (ASM) lost to Tommy Sugiarto (DD) 12-15, 15-10, 8-15.
Women’s singles: Kirsty Gilmour (ASM, Trump) bt Evgeniya Kosetskaya (DD) 12-15, 15-12, 15-7.
