World no. 1 Lee Chong Wei eased his way past Malaysian compatriot Daren Liew on his Indian Badminton League debut, before All England women’s champion Tine Baun followed suit as Mumbai Masters raced to a 2-0 start over Krishh Delhi Smashers here on Tuesday.
Lee, who joined the team just ahead of this clash after missing Mumbai’s first two ties against Banga Beats and Pune Pistons, posted a 21-12, 21-16 victory over world number 17 Liew in 35 minutes to help the hosts take a 1-0 lead.
Later, Tine crushed former national champion Arundhati Pantawane 21-11, 21-13 to increase Mumbai’s advantage.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar was among those who enjoyed the proceedings.
On Monday night, the Pune Pistons vs Hyderabad Hotshots clash was expected to be a close contest but turned out to be a one-sided affair with the latter registering a comprehensive 4-1 win.
The Hotshots began impressively when Ajay Jayaram shocked world no. 5 Tien Minh Nguyen. Saina Nehwal, who has a 8-4 head to head record against world no.3 Juliane Schenk, proved to be better among the two with a 17-21, 21-19, 11-6 victory to make it 2-0.
Pistons were under pressure to win the men’s doubles rubber but the Indian pair of Sanave Thomas and Rupesh Kumar lost 19-21, 16-21 to the Malaysian pair of V. Shem Goh and Wah Lim Khah.
The second men’s single game too went in Hotshots’ favour as Malaysia’s S. Tanongsak brushed aside Sourabh Varma 21-17, 21-18.
With everything going downhill, the Pistons were finally provided the much needed spark when captain Ashwini Ponnappa partnering Joachim Fischer Nielsen pulled one back in the mixed doubles. They beat Shem Goh and Pradnya Gadre 21-11, 21-14.