Hyderabad: Although Saina Nehwal of Awadhe Warriors lost to reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Hyderabad Hunters but her team still beat Hyderabad Hunters in a Premier Badminton League encounter in Hyderabad on Monday.
Awadhe Warriors’ Vincent Wong Wing Ki Vincent got off to a good start in the first match with a win against Hyderabad Hunters’ B Sai Praneeth in the men’s singles event.
Next up, Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin were playing in the most awaited match of the day.
Although Nehwal put up a stiff resistance in the first set, but the Rio Olympic champion Carolina Marin made several powerful rallies to edge past Nehwal 15-14 in the first game. Marin, who is currently the World No. 2, went on to dominate the second set by winning the game 11-5.
Despite her loss, Nehwal who recently recovered from her knee injury said she was happy to be back to play competitive badminton.
“Thanks for the support from the amazing crowd. I am still recovering from my knee injury, but I am happy with my performance in PBL,” said Nehwal.
The Awadhe Warriors then secured two points through Savitree Amitrapal-Bodin Isara in their mixed doubles victory as it was their ‘Trump match’.
Kidambi Srikanth sealed the victory for Awadhe Warriors with a hard fought 11-13, 11-7, 13-11 win against Hyderabad Hunters’ Rajiv Ouseph.
With Awadhe Warriors leading the tie with overall score of 4-1, the men’s doubles match between Goh V Shem-Markis Kido of Awadhe Warriors and Tan Boon Heong-Tan Wee Kiong of Hyderabad Hunters was considered to have no impact to the final results as Hyderabad Hunters would have got only two points even if they win the men’s doubles match, which has been chosen as their ‘Trump Match’.
