Match: Bengaluru Blasters v Mumbai Rockets
Date: 8 December, Sunday
Time: 11pm SGT/8:30pm IST/3pm GMT
Competition: Premier Badminton League 2017
Venue: Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru
TV Channel: In Singapore, there is no live TV coverage.
Live streaming: Hotstar
Overview
Hosts Bengaluru Blasters did not have a good start to their campaign at home this season as they lost a close battle to Hyderabad Hunters on 7 December.
Blasters surprised quite a few when they fielded India's doubles sensation Ashwini Ponnappa in the Women's singles match against reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin when they were leading 3-2 in the tie. However, the 27-year-old shuttler stunned the Spaniard in the first game to take it 11-9, much to the delight of the Bengaluru fans, who had gathered in numbers to rally behind their team.
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Ponnapa though was not able to make the most of the early lead and squandered in the next two games losing the tie 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, which was also the Trump match for Hunters. Earlier in the day, Boonsak Ponsana also lost to Sameer Verma but their mixed doubles pair of Sung Hyun Ko and Sikki Reddy opened the account on the day against Marin and 16-year-old Indian Satwiksairaj.
Viktor Axelsen, who defeated Sai Praneeth on Saturday, will once again be key and crowd favourite at Bengaluru. Ponnappa might once again play the Women's singles tie this time against top-ranked South Korean shuttler Sung Ji Hyun, who lost her previous match against Saina Nehwal.
Rockets are placed second in the team standings are brimming with confidence after toppling table-toppers Awadhe Warriors on Friday. Their Men's doubles pairing of Lee Yong Dae and Nipithphon Phuangphuapet are key to their chances and they are upbeat after stunning Awadhe's heavyweights Goh V Shem and Markis Kido.
Bengaluru have two more games to play in the group stages and they will have to make the most out of them if they are to stand a chance to make the semi-final. They have a tough nut to crack on Sunday as well.
TV Schedule
India: Star Sports
Team News
Bengaluru
Squad: Viktor Axelsen, Yoo Yeon Seong, Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, Boonsak Ponsana, Ruthvika Gadde, Sourabh Verma, Pranaav Chopra, Ko Sung Hyun, Sikki Reddy
Mumbai
Squad: Sung Ji Hyun, Lee Yong Dae, Nadiezda Zieba, Ajay Jayaram, Prannoy HS, Nipitphon Phusnhphupet, Manu Atri, Abhishek Yelegar, Vrushali G, Mohita Sehdev
