Chong Wei helps Mumbai thrash Delhi

World number one shuttler Lee Chong Wei was finally seen in action in IBL as he helped Mumbai Masters defeat Delhi Smashers 4-1 at the National Sports Club of India on Wednesday.

Chong Wei took a break after the recently concluded World Championships and missed the first two legs of the tournament in New Delhi and Lucknow.

However, the Malaysian returned with a bang as he won not just the men’s singles outing but the mixed doubles rubber too. Masters bagged five points to top the table with while Smashers were placed fifth with seven points.

In the first match of the day, Chong Wei made short work of Smashers’ Daren Liew, winning 21-12, 21-16. Danish great Tine Baun then gave the hosts a 2-0 lead after defeating Nagpur girl Arundhati Pantawane 21-11, 21-13 in the women’s singles encounter.

However, Smashers pulled one back after Koo Kein Keat and Tan Boon, both from Malaysia, overcame B Sumeet Reddy and Manu Attri 14-21, 21-15, 11-7 in men’s doubles.

In the second men’s singles, Masters’ Mark Zweibler won a marathon match against a spirited B Sai Praneeth. The German won 18-21, 21-10, 11-9 to help Mumbai win the tie.

In the dead mixed doubles rubber, Chong Wei and Tine teamed up against Smashers’ P Sawant and V Diju. The hosts gained a healthy lead in the first game and though Smashers made a comeback, it wasn’t enough as Masters won 21-18. Diju and Prajakta then played well to win the second game 21-15 but the decider was again easily won by the hosts 11-5. The next leg will be played in Pune from 22-23 August.