Lucknow, Aug 19: P Kashyap played through pain as he led Banga Beats to a comprehensive 4-1 win over Awadhe Warriors despite an injured ankle but P V Sindhu failed to pull it off for the home side in their Indian Badminton League clash here.
Mathias Boe and Kido Markis’ 21-14 21-19 win over Carston Mogensen and Akshay Dewalkar in men’s doubles was the lone highlight of the evening for the home team, which was simply outplayed and remains without a point in the league.
The match started with Banga Beats’ Hu Yun taking on Wei Fei Chong of the Warriors. The game ended in a 21-11 21-20 win for the Yun as Banga Beats took the early lead.
The team built on the advantage when Carolina Marin got the better of Sindhu, who is Warriors’ trump card and icon player in the $ one million event.
Marin won 21-14 21-19 against the rising Indian, who is struggling in the event despite coming off a commendable bronze-medal winning performance at the World Championships.
The 18-year-old Sindhu had earlier lost to Saina Nehwal in the Warriors’ opening encounter, against Hyderabad Hotshots.
“I had heard about the fiery moves of Sindhu post her win at the World Championship. I had to make an altogether different gameplan to beat her. I was initially nervous but gained confidence by the end of first game, said Marin, who was adjudged Vodafone Player of the Tie.
Next up was Kashyap against K Srikanth and the Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist drew from his reservoir of experience to outwit his younger rival despite not being a 100 per cent physically.
Kashyap rallied to win 20-21 21-11 11-9 in a close contest.
“I injured my ankle in the second set but the crowd pulled me along. There was no way I could have let down a crowd so supportive. Lucknow has always been very dear to me because I won my career’s first tournament here during the Syed Modi Badminton Tournament,” said Kashyap.
“Srikanth gave his 100 per cent and was not at all under pressure for playing against a senior. Let this be the beginning off my winning streak in the league.
“I played under lot of pressure after my earlier loss in Delhi. I had to prove myself and make the team win. Every win is important because each loss pushes us down the points table and puts pressure on the entire team,” he added after the team’s first win in the event.
But Boe and Markis denied Banga Beats a whitewash by clinching the men’s double match.
“I was looking forward to get a chance to play in the IBL and winning has only been a crowning glory for me. The crowd here is fantastic. I have never seen such an encouraging crowd anywhere in the world wherever I have played. I hope to win all the matches,” said Boe.
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