Mumbai: After 16 days of exhilarating action in front of packed houses at six venues between the six teams in eight legs, including the semifinals, in the Vodafone IBL, it is Hyderabad Hotshots and Awadhe Warriors who will finally battle it out in the final of the richest prize-money badminton tournament, to be held in a neutral city, Mumbai on Saturday.
 

The most-awaited match yet again will be the clash between ‘Indian Shuttle Queen’ Saina Nehwal and ‘teen sensation’ PV Sindhu.

With Saina striving to close the tournament not only with her team, Hyderabad Hotshots lifting the trophy but even winning her second match against Sindhu which will help keep her record clean with six straight wins in the League, Sindhu on the other hand will see this as an opportunity to get back on Saina after her loss in her first match in Delhi. With Saina in great form and eager to sign off on a high and with Sindhu in great spirits after a convincing win against Tine Baun in the semi-finals on August 29 in Bangalore, it will be interesting to see the outcome of this ‘battles of the nerves’ in the inaugural Vodafone IBL 2013 final between the Olympic bronze medalist and the World bronze medalist respectively.
 

Speaking on the finals, Saina said, “It will be a good match to witness between me and Sindhu. Our team will try to do well of course, but as the tournament passed by the Awadhe Warriors team gained momentum, but we will do our best. It’s not the Olympics, IBL is a team event and it will be a different feeling playing the League final for the first time.”
 

The 23-year-old Hyderabad Hotshot star added, “A team event is tough to play as there is extra pressure from the team, but all of us are ready for the challenge.”
 

Commenting on the experience in the Vodafone IBL 2013, Saina said, “We are happy to see Vodafone IBL 2013 doing so well. The first season is already towards the close and it has been a great experience with the fans, I loved the atmosphere and I am sure next year it will be even better.”
 

On eve of the Vodafone IBL 2013 Finals, Sindhu said, “I hope to give my best tomorrow against Saina. She is a senior player, experienced and good at what she does, so I’ll play my 100 per cent.”

Further, commenting on the prospects of Awadhe Warrior, the 18-year-old added, “Both Piya and Kido are playing really well in the mixed doubles and I hope they do their best. Boe (Mathias) is a top player in doubles. Beating Tine Baun has given me confidence because my first win against her was in the Vodafone IBL itself and yesterday was only my second win against Tine. Winning against her is an achievement in itself.”
 

In the men’s singles, all eyes will be on Hyderabad Hotshots Ajay Jayaram and K Srikanth who during their individual matches against Lee Chong Wei showed the world that they should not be taken lightly. With Mathias Boe and Markis Kido looking at winning the men’s doubles for Awadhe Warrior yet again it will be interesting to see the strategy that the duo of Goh V Shem and Wah Lim Khim adopt to win the category for Hyderabad Hotshots.
 

It will be interesting to see the strategy that the finalists adopt for this do-or-die battle as one wrong decision will cost them the Vodafone IBL 2013 trophy. It remains to be seen whether Hyderabad Hotshots opt for Saina as their mixed doubles partner with Goh V Shem to play against the dominant pair of Markis Kido and Pia Bernadeth! For LIVE action, tune in to ESPN & STAR SPORTS 2 at 2000hrs on August 31.