Awadhe Warriors post maiden victory
25 Aug 2013 4:56 AM IST
Awadhe Warriors, spearheaded by P V Sindhu, brought down Delhi Smashers in impressive style with a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the ongoing IBL late on Thursday night. Warriors, who are lying at the bottom of the table with eight points, posted their first victory of the tournament.
It was K Srikanth who set the rhythm for Warriors with his strategic and quick win, while Sindhu followed it up with another easy victory before the Smashers brought their team back on track by clinching the men’s doubles match.
But R M V Gurusaidutt made sure that the Awadhe Warriors sail home without much trouble and finally the mixed doubles pair of Markis Kido and Pia Z Bernadet won their match. Thailand Grand Prix gold winner, Srikanth started the proceedings for the Warriors and the Andhra Pradesh lad rode on his powerful smashes and better placements to tame B Sai Praneeth 21-14, 21-9 in the first men’s singles match to give Awadhe a 1-0 lead over Delhi at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex.
‘I was hoping to play against Sai or Daren and therefore was prepared. We both train at Gopichand Academy together which helped me know his moves. I just concentrated on that and won,’ Srikanth said.
World Championship bronze medallist, Sindhu then prevailed over Arundhati Pantawane 21-16, 21-17 in the women’s singles to guide Awadhe to a 2-0 lead.
Pantawane was the more dominating initially as she took a surprising 7-4 lead at the opening break in the first game. However, Sindhu fought her way back to 11-11 and then took the first game away from the 23-year-old National Games champion.
In the second game, Pantawane and Sindhu were tied at 6-6 at one stage but soon the Hyderabadi stretched her lead to 13-7 and wrapped up the game comfortably.
World number four Malaysian pair of Kien Keat Koo and Boon Hoeng Tanthen pulled one back in the men’s doubles competition for Delhi Smasher as they got the better of Markis Kido and Mathias Boe 21-16, 21-19. ‘It was a good partnership and we were prepared to play against Markis Kido and Mathias Boe. I loved the win,’ Koo Kien Keat said after the match.
In the second men’s singles rubber, Warriors’ Gurusaidutt beat Liew Daren 21-16, 21-20 in a tight match. While the Indian had it easy in the opening game, he struggled hard before prevailing 21-20 in the next game.
Ecstatic on winning the close match, Gurusaidutt said, ‘It was a crucial match for me. When we were both at 20-20, I tried to keep it on the net so that Liew Daren could not get any chance to defend. I think it was the best decision I took. I am delighted with the win.’
Kido and Bernadet wrapped it up in style for the Warriors by defeating V Diju and Prajakta Sawant 21-20, 21-19. ‘Both of us have played many matches together therefore there is lot of understanding between us which helped in giving a good fight. The earlier three wins by our team had given a big boost to our confidence. We were sure of the win,’ Kido said.
It was K Srikanth who set the rhythm for Warriors with his strategic and quick win, while Sindhu followed it up with another easy victory before the Smashers brought their team back on track by clinching the men’s doubles match.
But R M V Gurusaidutt made sure that the Awadhe Warriors sail home without much trouble and finally the mixed doubles pair of Markis Kido and Pia Z Bernadet won their match. Thailand Grand Prix gold winner, Srikanth started the proceedings for the Warriors and the Andhra Pradesh lad rode on his powerful smashes and better placements to tame B Sai Praneeth 21-14, 21-9 in the first men’s singles match to give Awadhe a 1-0 lead over Delhi at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex.
‘I was hoping to play against Sai or Daren and therefore was prepared. We both train at Gopichand Academy together which helped me know his moves. I just concentrated on that and won,’ Srikanth said.
World Championship bronze medallist, Sindhu then prevailed over Arundhati Pantawane 21-16, 21-17 in the women’s singles to guide Awadhe to a 2-0 lead.
Pantawane was the more dominating initially as she took a surprising 7-4 lead at the opening break in the first game. However, Sindhu fought her way back to 11-11 and then took the first game away from the 23-year-old National Games champion.
In the second game, Pantawane and Sindhu were tied at 6-6 at one stage but soon the Hyderabadi stretched her lead to 13-7 and wrapped up the game comfortably.
World number four Malaysian pair of Kien Keat Koo and Boon Hoeng Tanthen pulled one back in the men’s doubles competition for Delhi Smasher as they got the better of Markis Kido and Mathias Boe 21-16, 21-19. ‘It was a good partnership and we were prepared to play against Markis Kido and Mathias Boe. I loved the win,’ Koo Kien Keat said after the match.
In the second men’s singles rubber, Warriors’ Gurusaidutt beat Liew Daren 21-16, 21-20 in a tight match. While the Indian had it easy in the opening game, he struggled hard before prevailing 21-20 in the next game.
Ecstatic on winning the close match, Gurusaidutt said, ‘It was a crucial match for me. When we were both at 20-20, I tried to keep it on the net so that Liew Daren could not get any chance to defend. I think it was the best decision I took. I am delighted with the win.’
Kido and Bernadet wrapped it up in style for the Warriors by defeating V Diju and Prajakta Sawant 21-20, 21-19. ‘Both of us have played many matches together therefore there is lot of understanding between us which helped in giving a good fight. The earlier three wins by our team had given a big boost to our confidence. We were sure of the win,’ Kido said.
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