Bengaluru Raptors meet Awadhe Warriors in must-win tie in PBL 5
Defending champions Bengaluru Raptors will look to secure the last semifinal spot when they lock horns with Awadhe Warriors in a must-win final league match of the fifth Premier Badminton League here on Thursday.
With North Eastern Warriors, Chennai Superstarz and Pune 7 Aces having confirmed their places in the semifinals, the fourth spot is still up for grabs.
Bengaluru remains at an advantage as of now with 17 points in the bag, three points adrift of the fifth-placed Awadhe Warriors.
The Raptors are coming into the match after a 5-0 demolition of Mumbai Rockets. While World No. 2 Tai Tzu Ying has been their talisman and has remained unbeaten so far, it is B Sai Praneeth who played a pivotal role in their win.
Showing nerves of steel, the World Championships bronze medallist edged 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap in a tense and thrilling encounter that ended 15-14, 14-15, 15-14 in Sai's favour.
The world no 11 Indian will look for another confident show under ...