Himalayan Tigers wins Pro Masters Badminton League trophy

Visakhapatnam: The Himalayan Tigers clinched the title  of Pro Masters Badminton League (PMBL) defeating Sunrisers with 4-1 in the final battle at the Swarnabharathi Indoor Stadium here on Wednesday.

The first match of the final battle turnout out to be a lopsided affair with the Himalayan Tigers pair Lalmuanawma and Shika Khanduri outclassing Sunrisers duo Ajit Wijithilik and Manjusha Sahasrabundhe in straight sets 15-12 and 15-8 in the mixed doubles to give their team 1-0 lead.

Sunrisers pair Jaseel Ismail and Vijay Lancy displayed a superb performance to beat Akula Venkata Raju and Deepak Saxena of Himalayan Tigers in straight sets 15-11 and 15-8 in the men’s doubles match and levelled the lead 1-1.

Despite the injury, Himalayan Tigers’ top shuttler V Diju paired up with Pooja Mehta, came out all guns blazing to give the lead to their team and won straight games 15-4 and 51-12 against Vijay Lancy and Ch Deepthi of Sunrisers in the second mixed doubles match. 

With 2-1 lead, Himalayan Tigers continued their domination in the fourth match of the finals as Ashish Sharma and Sunil Gladson defeated JBS Vidyadhar and Mitesh Hazarnis in straight sets 15-13 and 15-8 in the men’s doubles (second match) and given their team 3-1 lead.  In the fifth match, Himalayan Tigers defeated Sunrises and clinched the trophy with 4-1.