Hunters favourites against Top Guns

The winner of the inaugural season, the re-launched outfit Hyderabad Hunters will open their title defence of the Premier Badminton League when they clash with Bengaluru Top Guns at the NSCI Sports Stadium here on Sunday.

The Parupalli Kashyap-led Hunters are a force to reckon with as their squad have the likes of elite shuttlers Lee Chong Wei, Markis Kido, Carsten Mogensen, Jwala Gutta.

With Kashyap recovering from an injury, the Malaysian former world no.1 Lee will play a crucial role in the men’s singles event and might even play the trump match.

Lee will be ably supported by Siril Verma, a promising youngster who won the silver at the World Junior Championships last month in Peru.

The doubles category for the Hyderabad-based franchisee boasts of two of the best shuttlers in the world in Kido and Morgensen.

Jwala, who played for Delhi last year, will represent her hometown and will shoulder the challenge in the mixed doubles category.

Hunters have a good mix of youngsters in Supanida K., K. Nandagopal, Meg-hana Jakkampudi and Satwik Sai Raj. Overall, Hunters have a healthy mix of youth and experience and can prove handful for the Top Guns.

Bengaluru may not have top-draw players but have dependable shuttlers in Kidambi Srikanth and Anand Pawar. Young Sameer Varma will also look to prove his mettle.