Mumbai: Saina Nehwal outclassed PV Sindhu for the second consecutive time as Hyderabad Hotshots crowned themselves champions of the inaugural Indian Badminton League by downing Awadhe Warriors 3-1 in the finals here on Saturday.
Saina brought the Hotshots on level terms by trouncing her young challenger in straight games 21-15, 21-7 after K Srikanth gave the Warriors an unexpected 1-0 lead by stunning top-20 rival S Tanongsak 21-12, 21-20.
Hotshots surged ahead again after Saina’s thumping win when their top Malaysian men’s doubles team of Goh V Shem and Wah Lim Khim got the better of the Danish-Indonesian pair of Mathias Boe and Markis Kido 21-14, 13-21, 11-4.
Later, Ajay Jayaram did the star turn for the Hotshots with a wonderful turnaround when he got past RMV Gurusaidutt after dropping the first game.
Jayaram beat Guru 10-21, 21-17, 11-7 to help Hyderabad win the top prize of Rs 3.5 crore.
“In the first game when Ajay (Jayaram) lost, I was a little tense and thought it is going to come down to the mixed doubles,” Saina said.
“I think the way he played in the second and the third (game) was brilliant. I am very happy for his result because it was the main match for our team,” she added.
On her match against Sindhu, Saina said, “It was the finals so I personally had no pressure.
“I just wanted to give my best. Sindhu also played quite well today but I am happy I pulled off my match.
“We actually didn’t expect the doubles also because Kido and Mathias Boe are great champions at the same time our players did very well.” (PTI)