Hyderabad Hunters kicked-off the new year in style with Carolina Marin sustaining a strong challenge from PV Sindhu of Chennai Smashers to win the first match of the inaugural tie of the Vodafone Premier Badminton League Season 2, powered by Maruti Suzuki here today at the infront of a packed house here at the Sports Authority of Telengana State.
Carolina playing against Sindhu
The match which was an highly anticipated with two of the best players of the current era Marin and Sindhu going against each to assert their domination, it was the former who had the last laugh after she won the gruelling match 11-8, 12-14 & 11-2.
In the first game, it was Marin who opened the scoring, only for Sindhu to equalise soon after. It was a to and fro action with both the players scoring on regulation. With scores tied 4-4, it was the Spaniard who opened up a three points gap to go up 9-6. Sindhu pulled one back, but Marin quickly stole one more point to go up 10-8. With game point in her favour, Marin did not try to do anything enterprising and was eventually rewarded for her patience as the Chennai player hit the nets to let her rival walk away with the opening game.
In the second game, it was Marin who started from where she left and took the attack straight to her opponent. She notched up points at will to go 5-2 up and it looked like she will not have to lose much sweat in the second game. However, Sindhu had other plans and she fought her way back to take five consecutive points to lead the game 7-5. The Spaniard however was in no mood to let go her opponent so easily and she took four points on the trot to go up 9-7. Sindhu stole one and so did Marin and with the score reading 10-8 in Marin’s favour, it looked like match was all but over. However, Sindhu fought back brilliantly to not only save three match points but to win 14-12 and level the match.
With the high intensity action in the second game, it looked like the deciding game would be even more action packed. But Marin did not even let Sindhu settle and stormed her way to take the 11-2 and win the match and also break Sindhu’s unbeatable run in the league.
Delighted with her win, Marin said, “It was a wonderful match and the way the crowd was behind, it was wonderful. Their support meant and lot and helped me to perform a lot better.”
Earlier in the day, the Vodafone PBL season 2 in a gala event, Badminton Association of India’s president Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta inaugurated the league in presence of the honourable Minister for Information Technology, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Government of Telangana, Mr. K T Rama Rao. All the players along with the team owners were also present for the grand extravaganza.