Ashwini Ponnappa led Pune Pistons to a thrilling 3-2 win over Jwala Gutta’s Krrish Delhi Smashers in opening day action of the $1 million Indian Badminton League here on Wednesday.
Ashwini paired up with Fischer Nielsen Joachim of Denmark to crush Jwala and Koo Kien Keat 21-19, 21-16 and give the Pistons four points (three points for each tie plus a bonus point for the win), as Delhi had to be content with two points.
The decider went to the tie-break with Jwala’s junior counterpart Ashwini coming up with a better repertoire of strokes. Her trade mark smashes also fell on the right areas.
Sai Praneeth B. started Delhi’s campaign with a 21-16, 21-20 upset win over world no. 7 Tien Minh Nguyen. German world no. 2 and Pune Pistons’ key player Juliane Schenk thrashed Jindapon Nichaon of Thailand 21-15, 21-6 in the women’s singles to level scores.
Delhi led again as in the men’s doubles, Boon Hoeng Tan and Kien Keat Koo drubbed K.T. Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas 21-13, 21-16, but Pune’s Saurabh Verma scored a 21-16, 19-21, 11-5 win over friend and training partner H.S. Prannoy, to draw parity before Ashwini and Joachim finished it off in Pune’s favour.