PBL 3 tie 3: Showstopper Sameer Verma, Mumbai leads 4-1 against Delhi

Sameer Verma of Mumbai Rockets, stunned world no. 15 Wing ki Wong Vincent in the latter’s trump match with 15-10, 15-12, displaying his smart court coverage; Sameer not only fetched the additional point for his team but also pushed the Delhi team into negative mark.

Ranked world No. 30, Sameer showed his proficiency over the court, covering the angles well. His cross-court jump smashes were particularly effective, fetching him points almost at well. The 23-year-old Indian star wrapped up the first game in less than 20 minutes and seemed on his way to another facile win.

While, Beijing Olympics gold medallist Lee Yong Dae’s excellent returns to beat Delhi Dashers a keenly-fought tie of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) added more hysteria among the audience at Bordoloi Indoor Stadium on Monday.

Dae contributed dual victories in the  in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles;

Dae and Tan Boon Heong rallied to beat Ivan Sozonov and Vladimir Ivanov 14-15, 15-14, 15-10 in the closest men’s doubles contest. Mumbai favoured from its opponents’ mistakes and Dae’s nice back up to level the score coordinated well with Heong to fox the Delhi players in the third game.

In the women’s singles contest, Delhi’s Sung Ji Hyun saved Delhi Acers defeated Beiwen Zhang with 12-15, 15-14, 15-9. Beiwen, who bagged the first game, lost the stride in the second game to Sung, who grabbed 13-5 lead before the former levelled the score at 14-14.

Beiwen’s error-prone game in the decider allowed Sung’s come-from-behind win.

Tian Houwei’s hard-fought victory over Son Wan Ho made Mumbai’s trump match a do-or-die contest. Followed by Gabriela Stoeva and Lee’s mixed doubles excellence sealed the match and the tie.

The result:

Mumbai Rockets bt Delhi Dashers 4-1

Men’s doubles:

Lee Yong Dae/Tan Boon Heong beat Ivan Sozonov/Vladimir Ivanov with 14-15, 15-14, 15-10;

Men’s singles: Sameer Verma beat Wing Ki Wong Vincent (T) 15-11, 15-12;

Women’s Singles: Beiwen Zhang lost to Sung Ji Hyun 15-12, 14-15, 9-15;

Men’s Singles: Son Wan Ho lost to Tian Houwei 15-13, 13-15, 9-15;

Mixed Doubles: Lee Young Dae-Gabriela Stoeva (T) beat Pranav Jerry Chopra-Arathi Sara Sunil 15-11, 15-9).