Ahmedabad secure last-four spot in PBL

CHENNAI: Ahmedabad Smash Masters secured a berth in the semi-finals of Premier Badminton League (PBL) with a crushing 5-0 win over Mumbai Rockets on the final day of the Chennai leg. The Ahmedabad team became the first to qualify for the semi-final, at the Nehru Indoor Stadium.

Sourabh Verma outclassed his brother Sameer 15-14, 15-11 in the trump match to ensure Smash Masters’ progress.

Sourabh took a closely fought first game and looked like running with the second as he opened up a 10-4 lead. Sameer fought back briefly but that wasn’t enough as his brother looked in control.

It was a thoroughly dominant performance from the Ahmedabad team, making its debut in the league with World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying underlining her class and H S Prannoy registering an upset 15-12, 15-12 win over World No.5 Son Wan Ho.

Tzu Ying was in her elements as she dismantled Beiwen Zhang 15-9, 15-12 in quick time to put Smash Masters 3-0 ahead after three matches.

Tzu Ying wrapped up the first game pretty quickly but in the second, Zhang stretched her to level the scores at 6-6.

The 23-year-old Tzu did not allow her opponent any leeway by collecting six points in a row only to find the doughty Zhang reduce the margin at 12-14. Tzu ensured the scoreline did not change much by grabbing the match point and win 15-12.