Upbeat Hotshots clash with Delhi; Pistons play Masters
18 Aug 2013 4:19 AM IST
Delhi Smashers would look to bring their campaign back on track when they take on high-flying Hyderabad Hotshots, while Pune Pistons would be aiming to maintain their winning run against Mumbai Masters in the second leg of Indian Badminton League (IBL) on Saturday.
The Delhi outfit would bank on the experience of their icon player Jwala Gutta to come good against the Hotshots, which boast of world no. 4 Saina Nehwal and Taufik Hidayat in their ranks. The second derby will witness battle between Pune and Mumbai, both looking to consolidate their position on the points table after registering victories in their respective opening rounds.
Jwala and Saina, two of India’s finest exponents of the game, will turn foes when they lead their respective teams on Saturday. Jwala is likely to pair up with either Boon Heong Tan or Kien Keat Koo, both from Malaysia, in mixed doubles. The world number two Malaysian pair, who won bronze and silver at the world championships in 2009 and 2010, respectively, is the biggest strength of Delhi Smashers. For Hyderabad, Saina is undoubtedly the star attraction. The franchise has an excellent mix of youth and experience with rising shuttler Ajay Jayaram in men’s singles and promising Tarun Kona and Pradnya Gadre forming the core of mixed doubles.
Malaysians V Shem Goh and Khim Wah Lim are regular men’s doubles partners and are expected to carry on the good work against Smashers. Thailand’s Tanongsak and India’s Subhankar Dey and Kanthi Visalakshi complete the team’s line-up. The experience of Hidayat, who retired recently, is surely a plus point for Hotshots. The Indonesian is likely to open his team’s campaign in men’s singles competition on Saturday.
In the duel between Mumbai and Pune, the match to watch out for will be the clash between world no. two Juliane Schenk and Tine Baun of Denmark. With the likes of men’s world no. five Tien Minh Nguyen in the ranks, Pune are the powerhouse when it comes to singles. The mixed doubles pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and Joachim Fisher Nielsen makes an experienced line-up. In men’s doubles, Pune have Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas and world no. seven Tan Wee Kiong pairing up with youngster Arun Vishnu.
Though Mumbai have world no. 1 Lee Chong Wei in their ranks, the icon player is yet to join the team after missing the opening tie against Banga Beats due to an inury sustained during the recent world championship.
The Delhi outfit would bank on the experience of their icon player Jwala Gutta to come good against the Hotshots, which boast of world no. 4 Saina Nehwal and Taufik Hidayat in their ranks. The second derby will witness battle between Pune and Mumbai, both looking to consolidate their position on the points table after registering victories in their respective opening rounds.
Jwala and Saina, two of India’s finest exponents of the game, will turn foes when they lead their respective teams on Saturday. Jwala is likely to pair up with either Boon Heong Tan or Kien Keat Koo, both from Malaysia, in mixed doubles. The world number two Malaysian pair, who won bronze and silver at the world championships in 2009 and 2010, respectively, is the biggest strength of Delhi Smashers. For Hyderabad, Saina is undoubtedly the star attraction. The franchise has an excellent mix of youth and experience with rising shuttler Ajay Jayaram in men’s singles and promising Tarun Kona and Pradnya Gadre forming the core of mixed doubles.
Malaysians V Shem Goh and Khim Wah Lim are regular men’s doubles partners and are expected to carry on the good work against Smashers. Thailand’s Tanongsak and India’s Subhankar Dey and Kanthi Visalakshi complete the team’s line-up. The experience of Hidayat, who retired recently, is surely a plus point for Hotshots. The Indonesian is likely to open his team’s campaign in men’s singles competition on Saturday.
In the duel between Mumbai and Pune, the match to watch out for will be the clash between world no. two Juliane Schenk and Tine Baun of Denmark. With the likes of men’s world no. five Tien Minh Nguyen in the ranks, Pune are the powerhouse when it comes to singles. The mixed doubles pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and Joachim Fisher Nielsen makes an experienced line-up. In men’s doubles, Pune have Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas and world no. seven Tan Wee Kiong pairing up with youngster Arun Vishnu.
Though Mumbai have world no. 1 Lee Chong Wei in their ranks, the icon player is yet to join the team after missing the opening tie against Banga Beats due to an inury sustained during the recent world championship.
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