Despite winning 3-2, Banga Beats ended sixth and last in the inaugural Indian Badminton League while Hyderabad Hotshots topped the points table despite going down late on Tuesday night.
Hotshots will play third placed Pune Pistons in the semifinal while second placed Awadhe Warriors will take on fourth placed Mumbai Masters in the last four stage.
Beats, already out of the knockouts, ended the tournament on a high besides gaining confidence by defeating table toppers Hotshots. Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Hotshots gave his team the lead by beating Beats’ icon player Parupalli Kashyap 21-20, 21-18 in a close men’s singles tie.
In women’s singles, Saina Nehwal maintained her undefeated run in the tournament, beating Ying Tai Tzu 21-17, 14-21, 11-8 to pull the home side 2-0 up. ‘One side of the court was faster which was a bit of problem. Looking at the crowd in my hometown, I was a bit under pressure. I am very excited to play in the semifinal and I am sure my team will give its best,’ Saina said.
The visitors, however, staged a remarkable comeback by winning the next three rubbers to seal the tie in their favour. In men’s doubles, Carsten Mogensen and Akshay Dewalkar of Beats defeated V Shem Goh and Wah Lim Khim of Hotshots 15-21, 21-15, 11-1.
Jan O Jorgensen of Beats then won his first IBL match, beating Ajay Jayaram of Hotshots. The Danish world no. nine won the second men’s singles rubber 21-11, 21-8 to level the score at 2-2. ‘I am happy with my game but a bit disappointed with Ajay, who didn’t play his best game. My overall experience of playing in IBL has been amazing and I would like to come back again next year and play for Banga Beats,’ said O Jorgensen.
In the deciding mixed doubles tie, Tarun Kona and Pradnya Gadre of Hotshots gave a good fight to Carsten Mogensen and Aparna Balan but the latter pair proved too good, winning the match 18-21, 21-16, 11-9 to hand Beats a consolation victory.