So, the final of the Indian Badminton League will see Saina Nehwal of the Hyderabad Hotshots go head-to-head against teen sensation PV Sindhu once again. PV Sindhu's Awadhe Warriors scored an incredible 3-2 win over Mumbai Masters on Thursday in Bangalore to reach the summit clash. Catch all the highlights from the Awadhe vs Mumbai game, as they happened. (See all the pics from Thursday's action)
Mixed doubles: Markis Kido-Pia Bernadeth (Awadhe Warriors) beat Vladimir Ivanov-Tine Baun (Mumbai Masters) 21-19 21-15.
Men's singles: Vladimir Ivanov (Mumbai Masters) beats K Srikanth (Awadhe Warriors) 21-20 21-19.
Men's doubles: Markis Kido-Mathias Boe (Awadhe Warriors) beat Pranav Chopra/Sumeeth Reddy (Mumbai Masters) 21-15 21-10.
Women's singles: PV Sindhu (Awadhe Warriors) beats Tine Baun (Mumbai Masters) 21-16 21-13.
Men's singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mumbai Masters) beats Gurusaidutt (Awadhe Warriors) 21-15 21-7.
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23:58 (IST) After the win, Awadhe Warriors icon player Pusarla Venkata Sindhu said: Starting of the tournament we didn't play that well but later on our team di well. Very thankful to the crowd, who came out to support us. I hope we give our best in final. Of course she's good player (Saina Nehwal), so I'll give my best against her in the final.
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23:48 (IST) Markis Kido-Pia Bernadeth beat Vladimir Ivanov-Tine Baun 21-19 21-15 in mixed doubles. Awadhe Warriors beat Mumbai Masters 3-2 to enter final of Indian Badminton League against Hyderabad Hotshots.
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23:41 (IST) Markis Kido-Pia Bernadeth lead second game 14-10 vs Vladimir Ivanov-Tine Baun. Awadhe pair won 1st game 21-19.
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23:36 (IST) Markis Kido-Pia Bernadeth (Awadhe Warriors) lead second game 7-5 vs Vladimir Ivanov-Tine Baun (Mumbai Masters).
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23:29 (IST) Mixed doubles: Markis Kido-Pia Bernadeth (Awadhe Warriors) win 1st game 21-19 vs Ivanov-Baun (Mumbai Masters).
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23:21 (IST) Kido-Pia lead Ivanov-Baun 14-10 in the first game after the second short break.
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23:17 (IST) Kido-Pia lead Ivanov-Baun 7-5 in the first game of the mixed doubles.
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23:05 (IST) Mumbai Masters owner says: I will love to do a badminton film. If I have to cast any of these badminton professionals, it will have to be Pullela Gopichand. Sitting and cheering for the team is more stressful for me, cause there are no retakes on live television. I wish my Mumbai team does well and it will be good to reach the finals, which will be in Mumbai.
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23:00 (IST) So the final line-up will be decided via a mixed doubles. Hyderabad Hotshots are already in the summit clash. Ivanov will once again be in action, playing the mixed doubles along with Tine Baun. The two will be head-to-head against Markis Kido and his sister Pia Bernadeth.
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22:56 (IST) Vladimir Ivanov beats K Srikanth 21-20 21-19 and Mumbai Masters level it 2-2 against Awadhe Warriors.
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22:49 (IST) Srikanth trails 9-14 against Ivanov in the second game. The Russian won the first game 21-20.
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22:43 (IST) Ivanov takes 7-4 lead over Srikanth in the second game.
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22:38 (IST) Vladimir Ivanov (Mumbai Masters) take 1st game 21-20 against K Srikanth (Awadhe Warriors).
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22:30 (IST) Srikanth breaks back to lead Ivanov 14-12 after the second short break in the first game.
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22:23 (IST) Vladimir Ivanov leads Srikanth 7-3 after the first short break in the first game. Remember, if Awadhe's Srikanth beats Mumbai's Ivanov, the match will not go into the 5th match, the mixed doubles.
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22:14 (IST) Next up is a do-or-die game for Mumbai Masters, who will be represented by Vladimir Ivanov. The Russian Rocket, as he is called in the IBL, will face talented K Srikanth of the Awadhe Warriors.
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22:05 (IST) Kido-Boe take 14-7 lead against Chopra-Sumeeth in the second game.
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22:00 (IST) Markis Kido-Mathias Boe lead 7-3 in the second game against Pranav Chopra-Sumeeth Reddy.
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21:55 (IST) Markis Kido-Mathias Boe (Awadhe Warriors) win 1st game 21-15 vs Pranav Chopra-Sumeeth Reddy (Mumbai Masters).
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21:50 (IST) Kido-Boe rally back to a 14-10 lead in the first game against Chopra-Sumeeth.
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21:45 (IST) Chopra-Sumeeth lead 7-5 after the first short break against Kido-Boe.
21:42 (IST) FACTOID: Markis Kido of Indonesia won the men's doubles gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, partnering Hendra Setiawan.
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21:40 (IST) Time for men's singles now: Markis Kido and Mathias Boe of Awadhe Warriors go head to head against Sumeeth Reddy and Pranav Jerry Chopra of the Mumbai Masters.
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21:35 (IST) "I'm thankful to the crowd for all the support. My coaches told me how to play my game. As an icon player, I tell all my team players to give their best," says Pusarla Venkata Sindhu after beating Tine Baun.
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21:25 (IST) Sindhu continues to stay ahead, leads 14-8 in the second game against Tine Baun.
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21:17 (IST) Sindhu takes the first game 21-16 against Tine Baun.
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21:09 (IST) Sindhu leads Baun 14-9 after the second short break in the first game.
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21:01 (IST) PV Sindhu of the Awadhe Warriors leads Tine Baun of the Mumbai Master 7-4 after the first short break in the first game.
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20:50 (IST) Next up is today's marquee clash - PV Sindhu vs Tine Baun in the women's singles. Sindhu had beaten the three-time all-England champion in the previous outing.
20:47 (IST) "I'm very happy after the win. I'm thankful to all the fans for all their support. I think now our team is in a good position to reach the final," says Mumbai Masters' icon player Lee Chong Wei after beating Awadhe Warriors' Gurusaidutt.
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20:40 (IST) It's 14-2 for Lee now in second game, match seems to have gone past Gurusaidutt's reach.
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20:34 (IST) In the second game, Lee leads Gurusaidutt 7-2 after the short break.
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20:25 (IST) Lee Chong Wei takes first game 21-15 vs Gurusaidutt. Mumbai Masters' brand ambassador Sunil Gavaskar is cheering for his team, sitting with team owner and south Indian movie star Nagarjuna, who is celebrating his 54th birthday today.
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20:19 (IST) Lee takes 14-12 lead over Gurusaidutt after the 2nd short break. Gurusaidutt hanging in there after forcing some long rallies. 9 unforced errors by Lee so far, as compared to 5 by Gurusaidutt.
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20:11 (IST) After the first short break, Lee leads Gurusaidutt 7-4. Lee is showing early glimpses of excellent judgement and precision timing.
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20:00 (IST) First up - World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei (Mumbai Masters) takes on Gurusaidutt (Awadhe Warriors) in first men's singles.
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With most of the attention focused on the P.V. Sindhu (Awadhe Warriors) vs Tine Baun (Mumbai Masters) match in the Indian Badminton League semi-finals, both players expect a tight contest today.
"It's been pretty tough coming back from my retirement. I think I have done better than I expected. I have been close to winning some of my matches. Most of the other players have prepared well for the Worlds which was just before this event and I haven't been playing at all.
"The IBL has taught me that I cannot do some of the things like I used to, but I am determined to fight all the way for the team. I hope to be here next year too," said Baun in a chat with the media on Wednesday.
Sindhu, the 18-year old who created a sensation by reaching the semi-finals at the World Championship and scored some notable wins in the ongoing IBL, especially against Baun when the teams met last week, expected a good tie.
"It will be a good match tomorrow. I want to give my best because Tine (Baun) is a very good player. Our team is in good form, we should do well. It has been a good comeback to get into the semifinals (after losing their opening two matches)," said Sindhu. Read full preview.
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Squads:
Awadhe Warriors - PV Sindhu (icon player), Weng Fei Chong, Gurusaidutt, K Srikanth, Ruthvika Shivani, Marcis Kido, Mathias Boe, K Maneesha, Nanda Gopal. Coach: Hafiz Hashim.
Mumbai Masters - Lee Chong Wei (icon player), Mark Zweibler, Tine Baun, Pranav Chopra, Manu Attri, Siki Reddy, PC Thulasi, Vladimir Ivanov, Rasika Raje, Sumeeth Reddy. Coach: Aparna Popat.