Opening ceremony may not have lived up to expectations but to the relief of sporting fraternity and spectators, the contest between Delhi Smashers and Pune Pistons on the opening day of the Indian Badminton league (IBl) at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Wednesday surely did.
Some gripping and high intensity matches on the very first day set the right tone for this ambitious league. Though the sparse crowd indicates otherwise, with the right buzz, consistent performance and big stars, the tournament may gather some steam after first week.
At the time of going to press, Delhi Samshers and Pune Pistons were even with two wins each to their account. The fifth and final match — mixed doubles —will see Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa taking on each other. The result of this match will decide the winner of the first encounter of the IBl.
It was Smashers' who managed to get its IBl campaign off to a flying start when Sai Praneeth beat Tien Minh Nyugen of Pune Pistons 21-16, 21-20 in straight games to give his team lead at the very beginning. World No 37 Praneet played an attacking game from the word go and never gave Nyugen, who is ranked seventh, any chance. The lead didn't stay for long with the Delhi Smashers as Pune Pistons' Juliane Schenk beat Nichaon Jindapon 21-15, 21-6 in the women's singles.
By the time third match of the day — men's doubles — ended, the Delhi Smashers again got hold of the lead with Chinese pair of Tan Boon Heong and Koo Kien Keat beating Pune Pistons' Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas 21-13, 21-16. However, Saurabh Kumar helped Pune Pistons to regain the parity with win over HS Prannoy 21-16, 19-21, 11-5.