Marin inspires Hyderabad Hunters to win over NE Warriors in PBL

Carolina Marin of Hyderabad Hunters plays a forehand return to Michelle Li of NorthEast Warriors during their PBL match in Guwahati on Sunday

Guwahati, December 24: Hyderabad Hunters got off to a bright start in their Premier Badminton League opener after beating NorthEast Warriors at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium here on Sunday.

The Hunters won their men's doubles, first men's singles and women's singles. NE Warriors returned to seize the men's singles contest.

The NorthEast Warriors' supported by a large number of vociferous fans took the first two matches to the distance but failed to deliver the knockout blow. Hunters completed the rout in the final mixed doubles match of the day to win the tie 5-2.

Hunters' star player Carolina Marin justified her World No 3 billing by defeating Michelle Li 15-9, 15-11. It was a significant victory as the Hunters had listed it as their Trump match, fetching them two points. After three matches they had garnered four points, while the Warriors had yet to open their account.

Earlier, the Hunters men's doubles pair of Markis Kido/Yoo Yeon Seong overcame a resolute Kim Gi Jung/Shin Baek Cheol 15-10, 13-15, 15-13 in a thriller to give them their first point. The South Korean duo put up a gallant display but the experience of Indonesian Kido and Korean Seong stood out in a tense finish.

Lee Hyun Il then caused an upset by defeating Ajay Jayaram 15-13, 11-15, 15-6 in the men's singles. Jayaram, who held a 3-0 advantage against the Korean in their earlier meetings, appeared to justify it by racing to a 6-0 lead in the first game. But Lee Hyun clawed back to turn the tables on him15-13. Although the Indian bounced back in the second and took the contest to the third game, Lee Hyun closed out the match with a dominant display.

Later, Wang Tzu Wei made it 2-4 after beating Sai Praneeth 11-15, 15-6, 15-6 in a trump match.

Results

Hyderabad Hunters vs North East Warriors

Men's doubles: Markis Kido/Yoo Yeon Seong bt Kim Gi Jung/Shin Baek Cheol 15-10, 13-15, 15-13

Men's singles: Lee Hyun Il bt Ajay Jayaram 15-13,11-15, 15-6

Women's singles: Carolina Marin bt Michelle Li 15-9,15-11

Men's singles: Sai Praneeth lost to Wang Tzu Wei 15-11, 6-15, 6-15

Mixed doubles: Satwicksairaj Rankireddy/Pia Zebadiah Bernadet bt Prajakta Sawant/Shin Baek Cheol 15-8, 15-11

Source: Press release