With Malaysian World No 1 Lee Chong Wei displaying his great talent and leading Mumbai Masters to an emphatic, almost one-sided win over Krrish Delhi Smashers by a huge 4-1 margin on Tuesday in Mumbai, it seems certain that they will carry their form to Pune where they face the Saina Nehwal-led Hyderabad Hotshots today.

It will surprise many to know that modern badminton was born in Pune around the 1860s. In fact, for a few years, the sport was actually called ‘Poonai’. The first badminton court made by the British army officers is where theu00a0canteen of the Khirkee Ammunition Factory stands today. What better setting therefore for this much anticipated clash between two of the most talked about teams in the Indian Badminton League.

Lee Chong Wei should not encounter any opposition either from Ajay Jayaram or S Tanongsak and should give the first point to the Masters. Saina should, in all probability, make it 1-1 for Hotshots when she faces Tine Baun. The two have met nine times before and Saina is up 5-4. The last time the two played was at the 2012 BWF Superseries Finals where it was the Danish All England star who won a hardfought three-game affair. But Saina is having a great run in the IBL.

Masters should win the second singles too. But they have a problem of plenty. The format permits only three foreigners to play and if they opt for Vladimir Ivanov here, the Masters will win the second singles for sure. But if Marc Zwiebler plays against any of the Hyderabad Hotshots players, it’s a 50-50 chance.
Khim Wah Lim and Shem Goh should win the men’s doubles for Hyderabad.

Mumbai Masters’ Lee Chong Wei in full flow during the clash against Delhi Smashers’ Daren Liew at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Worli on Tuesday. Pic/Suresh KK