Pune Pistons, thanks to the fantastic performance of their mixed doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Joachim Fischer Nielsen, are on a roll.

Not many had high expectations from the players the Pune franchise picked in the auction, but the strategy of buying a strong women’s singles player and a fast moving mixed doubles pair seems to have paid rich dividends for the Pistons, who were comfortably perched atop the standings as of Saturday.

Moreover, having defeated the Mumbai Masters despite the heroics of Vladmir Ivanov, Pistons start as favourites against the mighty Hyderabad Hotshots today.
The match of the day will undoubtedly be the women’s singles clash between India’s Saina Nehwal and World No 3 Juliane Schenk.

Nehwal, currently ranked 4th, enjoys an 8-4 head-to-head advantage over the 31-year-old German. However, it must be noted that the last time the two clashed, in this year’s Indonesia Open, it was the hardworking German veteran who came up trumps.

Ashwini Ponnappa and Joachim Fischer Nielsen in action against Delhi Smashers. Pic/Rajeev Tyagi