PBL: Mumbai Rockets cruise past Saina ‘horror-show’ into final

Lucknow had a great start to the match by winning the Mixed Doubles to go ahead in the match. The pair of Bodin Issara and Christina Pedersen went down a game 12-15 before jumping back to take the next two games 15-13, 15-14 against V Ivanov and Kamilla Juhl of Mumbai Rockets.

H S Prannoy brought back Mumbai into the match by beating Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in a hard-fought contest to level things up. World No.33 Saensomboonsuk had registered an upset victory against World No.20 Prannoy in the opening match of the PBL, and he almost repeated it by winning the first game 15-12. The Indian made an impressive comeback in the second game by putting pressure on the Thai shuttler to take the second game 15-7 and confirmed the tie in his favour by pocketing the third game 15-9.

The third tie of the evening also proved to be a tight contest, with both teams going neck-to-neck in a three-game affair. Mathias Boe and Vladimir Ivanov put Mumbai in the lead after the third tie by winning the Men’s Doubles tie 15-10, 12-15, 15-13 against Cai Yun and Bodin Issara .

Trailing 1-2, Lucknow put their trump on World No.2 and their marquee player Saina Nehwal, who had missed the last two matches with an injury. Playing against Chinese shuttler Han Li, Nehwal seemed to be struggling with injury with very few movements. Han Li raced to an 8-6 lead in the first game with the Olympic Bronze medallist staying rooted in center position to earn her winners and failing miserably.

The reasons behind Saina’s decision to play the match without being match fit will only be known to her. For any Indian badminton fan, it would have been extremely hard to watch the World No.2 playing as she surrendered the first game 8-15 to her unheralded opponent.

The Champ looked marginally better with her movement in the second game and outfoxed the Chinese shuttler with some delightful drops from the centre of the court. With the hobbling Indian performing much better, Han Li tried to play longer rallies to gain points. Huffing and puffing, Saina reached the game point in the second game, only to lose two game points and give Han Li a chance. The 25-year old finally took the second game 15-13 with the Chinese shuttler putting the shuttle straight into the net.

Han Li’s tactic in the third game was extremely simple and revolved around placing the shuttle close to the net against her rooted opponent. Midway in the third set, the Indian’s wild shot went long way from the court and the commentator shouted “horrible”. The Olympian, who has been a flag bearer for Indian badminton, looked to the skies for divine intervention to save her from the misery. Alas, it was Han Li, who ended the misery by taking the third game 15-7 to finish off the game and to send her team into the final with a 3-0 victory.

Mumbai Rockets will clash with Delhi Acers for the PBL title on Sunday at Delhi.

Lucknow Warriors vs Mumbai Rockets 3-0

1.Mixed Doubles: Bodin Issara/Christina Pedersen vs V Ivanov/Kamilla Juhl 12-15, 15-13, 15-14

2.Men’s Singles: Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk vs H S Prannoy 12-15, 15-7, 15-9

3.Men’s Doubles: Cai Yun/Bodin Issara vs Mathias Boe/Vladirmir Ivanov 10-15, 15-12, 13-15

4.Women’s Singles: Saina Nehwal* vs Han Li 8-15, 15-13, 7-15

(* signifies trump match)