Premier Badminton League: Tough challenge ahead for Delhi

Former world no. 1 Lee Chong Wei and Kidambi Srikanth will return to one of their favourite venues — the Siri Fort Sports Complex where they had reigned supreme at the India Open Super Series in the past — when they lead their respective sides in the Delhi leg of the Premier Badminton League Season 2 beginning Thursday.

Lee would look to help the Hyderabad Hunters maintain their winning streak while Srikanth, representing Bengaluru Top Guns, would be keen to continue his impressive run when they face the Delhi Acers.

Srikanth recorded a stunning win over Lee in the Top Guns’ loss to the Hunters in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Top Guns would look to get a positive result after back-to-back losses. The Acers, on the other hand, would be keen to bank on home advantage and register their first win this season, after defeats to the Awadhe Warriors and the Chennai Smashers.

Acers’ men’s singles player Ajay Jayaram said the side would have a tough task at hand.

“Hyderabad and Banga-lore are strong teams. But the team are positive and looking forward to it. There is also an added excitement of playing at home,” Jayaram said.

“It is definitely going to be tough but we have a well balanced team. I hope we can pull through and have fun while at it.”

If Hyderabad and Bengaluru have strong men’s singles line-ups with Lee, Parupalli Kashyap (Hyderabad) and Srikanth, Anand Pawar (Bengaluru), Delhi have Tommy Sugia-rto and Jayaram to shoulder the responsiblity. Both Sugiarto and Jayaram have so far came to their team’s rescue. In the women’s section, Bengaluru’s Suo Di and Supanida Katethong (Hyderabad) are expected to have the edge over Delhi’s P.C. Thulasi.

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