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Hunters will now face Mumbai Rockets in second semifinals tomorrow, while the Chennai Smashers will go up against table toppers Awadhe Warriors in a mouth-watering clash, which will pit the superstars of Indian badminton SainaNehwal against PV Sindhu against each other.
Requiring just three points to qualify for the knock-out stages, it was Carolina Marin who stood up to the expectations of her team and made the scoreline 4-2 and pave the way for her team with a game in hand. Marin who has been in superb form throughout the league was entrusted with the responsibility of playing the trump match did not fail to deliver and beat NitchaonJindapol 15-14, 11-4. The win was enough for her team to take the last remaining spot.
Earlier in the day, starting the tie, it was two of India’s rising star Siril Verma of Delhi Acers and Sameer Verma of Hyderabad Hunters who went up against each other in a men’s singles match. With each match, very crucial for both the team’s chances to qualify for the knock-out stages, it was Sameer who started on an attacking note and went into the mid-game break with a lead of 6-3. However, after the break it was Siril, who turned the tides and dominated the proceedings to win the game 11-8.
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Delhi pulled one back through Jan O Jorgensen as he beat Rajiv Ouseph 11-5, 11-7 in straight games to win tie the score 2-2. Going into the last match of the tie with a 4-2 lead and the tie already in their pocket, Boon Heong Tan and Wee Kiong Tan of Hunters beat Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov11-9, 13-11 in the men’s doubles match to finish the tie on high.