Chennai Smashers thrash Ahmedabad Smash Masters in PBL

Former champions Chennai Smashers produced a flawless performance to hand table toppers Ahmedabad Smash Masters an embarrassing 6-(-1) defeat in a Premier Badminton League season four match here Sunday.

Season 2 champions Chennai, who were drubbed by Hyderabad Hunters in their previous match, thus registered their first win in the fourth season of the tournament.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Rajeev Ouseph upset Ahmedabad Trump Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and former World No. 2 Sung Ji Hyun won the Chennai Trump clash with Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland to inflict the first defeat of the season on the Smash Masters.

Ouseph's huge win over former world champion Axelsen denied any hope of a comeback for the Smash Masters, who lost all the five matches of the tie.

Axelsen struggled to retrieve his shots and lacked his usual firepower and conviction, conceding the opener 12-15.

Ouseph might have felt a bit complacent after that strong start for he let a string of errors creep into his ...