TNBL 2018: Flying Gravity beats Chennai Shuttle Kings 3-2

Flying Gravity and The Jade Force from Group 1, and Jhaver Smashers and Falcon Feathers from Group 2 have qualified for the semifinals.

Dhanyaa (above) had to rally from a set down to beat Arul Bala.

Flying Gravity defeated Chennai Shuttle Kings 3-2 in the Group 1 tie, and Jhaver Smashers drubbed Lanson Knights 5-0 in the Group 2 tie, on day three of the Tamil Nadu Badminton League at the Ampa Skywalk mall here on Saturday.

Flying Gravity and The Jade Force from Group 1, and Jhaver Smashers and Falcon Feathers from Group 2 have qualified for the semifinals. Jhaver Smashers was hardly stretched. Only the women’s singles and Mixed doubles went to the third game. Dhanyaa had to rally from a set down to beat Arul Bala, as did Varshath & Thanushree versus Nazeer Khan & Ramya Thulasi.

The No.1 ranked pair in the U15 boy’s doubles State rankings, Srayas & Murugappa, continued their winning run, beating Kawin Thangam and P. Anirudh in straight games (15-7, 15-5).

In the Group 1 tie, reigning women’s State champion Akshaya Arumugam won comfortably versus S. Praveena (15-7, 15-12), especially after her lacklustre showing against the current women’s State No.1 V.S. Varshini on Friday. Vikash Prabhu & Arun Sreevatsan weren’t as good as they were on Friday, losing 13-15, 12-15 to Rithvik Sanjeevi & Koushik.

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S. Kishore, who upset the men’s singles State No.1 Manigandan on Friday, couldn’t replicate his performance on Saturday. He managed to win only the first game (15-12) versus Kevin Arokiya Walter. He lost the second game closely, though.

The results (day three): Group 1: Flying Gravity bt Chennai Shuttle Kings 3-2: [Men: S. Kishore lost to Kevin Arokiya Walter 15-12, 14-15, 12-15; Women: Akshaya Arumugam bt S. Praveena 15-7, 15-12; Men’s doubles: Mohan Raj & Bhuvanesh bt R.S. Mohanakrishnan RS & R.N. Harshan 15-9, 13-15, 15-9; Jr. boys doubles: Vikash Prabhu & Arun Sreevatsan lost to Rithvik Sanjeevi & Koushik 13-15, 12-15; Mixed doubles: Poornima Cheruku & Velavan bt Manasseh & Chandana 15-6, 15-11]

Group 2: Jhaver Smashers bt Lanson Knights 5-0 [Men: P. Naveen bt Kaveen Dharanirajan 15-9, 15-12; Women: Dhanyaa bt Arul Bala 13-15, 15-10, 15-12; Men’s doubles: Senthil Vel & Lokesh Vishwanathan bt Mohamed Rehan & Balamanikandan 15-13, 6-15, 15-7; Jr. boys’ doubles: Srayas & Murugappa bt Kawin Thangam & P. Anirudh 15-7, 15-5; Mixed doubles: Varshath & Thanushree bt Nazeer Khan & Ramya Thulasi 13-15, 15-13, 15-8.

Points table: Group 1: Flying Gravity (7); The Jade Force (5); Chennai Shuttle Kings (3); Group 2: Falcon Feathers (7); Jhaver Smashers (7); Lanson Knights (1).