Lucknow: Krrish Delhi Smashers managed to pull up one of the most sensational victories of the tournament as after being down by 0-2, they bounced back well to claim the rest of three matches and defeated Hyderabad Hotshots in the Indian Badminton League encounter by 3-2 in Lucknow on Saturday.
The real turnaround for Delhi Smashers came in with the men’s doubles and mixed doubles pair which allowed them to post their maiden victory of the tournament. Intense moments of the day came in when Hyderabad and Delhi were at 2-2 and V Diju with his Delhi teammate Prajakta Sawant took the centre stage against Hyderabad’s V Shem Goh and Pradnya Gadre.
Diju and Prajakta managed to hold on their nerves in the last tie and consequently Delhi emerged out victorious as they won the first set 21-20 and second set by 21-15 to take their side to a much-needed win on the third day of the Indian Badminton League.
Earlier in the day, Delhi had a good start when Sai Praneeth claimed the first game but table turned really soon as Thai player S Tanongsak managed to win the next two games and gave Hyderabad a very crucial in the early stages of the day. Sai lost the match by 21-19 19-21 7-11 to his Thai opponent.
Second game of the day was between Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and Arundhati Pantawane. This match turned out to be a cakewalk for someone like Saina who was having wide range of shots to rattle her Delhi opponent. Her smashes were coming good which ultimately led her to the 21-6 in the first game.
Saina’s supremacy was something too hard to breach for Arundhati, who was finding it hard to get her rhythm. Saina eventually gave Hyderabad Hotshots a 2-0 lead as Arundhati lost the second set by 8-21.
However, Delhi Smashers made a brilliant comeback as their world number two Malaysian duo of Boon Heong Tan and Kien Keat Koo defeated V Shem Goh and Kona Tarun of Hyderabad 21-14 21-10 to reduce the lead by 1-2.
The fourth and also the most awaited match of the day was played between Taufik Hidayat and Malaysian Darren Liew, but the former World and Olympic champion was no way near his best and lost the match by 10-21, 7-21 and with that shocking result Delhi made their way back into the contest as it was tied on 2-2.
Later V. Diju and Prajakta Sawant got the better of Goh and Pradnya Gadre to win the mixed doubles match 21-20, 21-15.
Meanwhile Pune Pistons came twice from behind to win Maharashtra derby in the Indian Badminton League as they beat Mumbai Masters 3-2. Pune added four points to its kitty to top the table .