BENGALURU RAPTORS WIN PBL TITLE

BENGALURU: Immediately after the first match of the final between Bengaluru Raptors and Mumbai Rockets came a moment that captured the legacy of Indian badminton --- Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand, the only All England champions from India, flanking the glittering Premier Badminton League trophy.

The final lived up to the hype as home team Bengaluru Raptors defeated Mumbai Rockets 4-3 to win their maiden PBL title. Mumbai finished runners-up for the third time.

With scores 3-3 after four matches, it boiled down to the men’s doubles.

The famed Indonesian pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, representing the home team, against South Korean great Lee Yong Dae and his new partner Gi Jung Kim, promised a thriller. With the crowd firmly behind them, Ahsan and Setiawan sealed the tie 15-13, 15-10 amid rapturous celebrations.