Delhi smashes Beats, back in hunt

Delhi Smashers defeated hosts Banga Beats 4-1 to keep their hopes alive for a semifinal spot in the inaugural IBL late on Sunday night. 

The victory at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium helped Smashers bag five points and they are now placed fourth with 13 points. Beats have now lost three ties out of the four it played and are placed fifth with nine points.

In the first men’s singles, Beats’ icon player P Kashyap was in his elements against his junior B Sai Praneeth of Smashers. The world no. 14 won in straight games  (21-15, 21-11 ) to the delight of the crowd. However, Smashers came back in style to win the next four matches to seal the crucial tie.

Jindapon Nichaon of Smashers overcame Carolina Marin 21-17, 15-21, 11-9 in a tough women’s singles tie which lasting for almost an hour. Smashers’ world no. four Malaysian pairing of Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Hoeng then beat Carsten Mogensen and Akshay Dewalkar 21-11, 20-21, 11-7 in the men’s doubles to swell the lead.

Kerala shuttler HS Prannoy sealed the tie for Smashers when he defeated former national champion Arvind Bhat 21-18, 7-21, 11-8 in the second men’s singles rubber.

In the dead mixed doubles rubber, Smashers’ icon player Jwala Gutta teamed up with her former partner V Diju to take on Carsten Mogensen and Carolina Marin, both playing their second match of the day. The Indian pair won the match in three games to give their team an extra point. Jwala and Diju won 21-16, 15-21, 11-9. IANS