IBL 2013: Delhi move to fourth after beating Banga Beats 4-1

The Jwala Gutta-led Krrish Delhi Smashers dented Banga Beats’ hopes to reach the semifinals after defeating them 4-1 in the inaugural Indian Badminton League on Sunday night. Banga Beats next cross swords with table-toppers Hyderabad Hotshots in Saina Nehwal’s backyard. The Hostshots have been in supreme form with fifteen points from four ties so far. The contest between the two teams was a one-sided affair as the hosts were completely outplayed and hardly gave any impression of bouncing back. The saving grace, however, was Parupalli Kashyap, who gave a rousing start for the Beats by thrashing B Sai Praneeth 21-15, 21-11 to put his team 1-0 ahead of Smashers in the men’s singles tie. [caption id=“attachment_1059825” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  They have now pipped PV Sindhu-led Warriors and occupied the fourth place on the table with 13 points. Reuters[/caption] After this loss, the Beats are placed at fifth place on the table with nine points from one win and three losses in four ties. Their match against Hotshots is on 27 August. The 4-1 win by Smashers enlivened their hopes of an outside chance of sneaking into the semifinals — provided other results go their way. Delhi have now pipped PV Sindhu-led Awadhe Warriors and occupied fourth place on the table with 13 points. Awadhe have 12 points and will play second-placed Pune Pistons next, who are comfortable with 15 points. In Sunday’s match, Kashyap did not miss a chance to bring his team’s campaign back on track by beating giant-killer Praneeth 21-15 21-11 to put his team 1-0 ahead of Smashers in the men’s singles tie. However, the Beats’ Carolina Marin brought disappointment for the fans as she lost her match 17-21, 21-15, 9-11, giving in to the dominating Nichaon Jindapon of Smashers in the deciding game. Boon Hoeng Tan and Kien Keat Koo then kept the hopes alive for Smashers with a 21-11, 11-21, 11-7 victory over Beats’ Carsten Mogensen and Akshay Dewalkar in the men’s doubles to give their team a 2-1 lead in the tie. HS Pranoy of Smashers capitalised on the lead by tightening the noose against Beats’ Aravind Bhat 21-18, 7-21, 11-8. Mixed doubles pair of Gutta and V Diju further pulverized the hopes of Beats as they defeated the pair of Mogensen and Marin 21-16, 15-21 and 11-9 in the fifth and final match, outwitting the hosts 4-1 in the tie. PTI