Acers outguns Top Guns in PBL

English recruit Rajiv Ouseph mesmerised badminton fans in the capital with a stunning victory over World No. 9 Kidambi Srikanth as Delhi Acers notched up their second successive win in the Premier Badminton League by outclassing Bengaluru Top Guns 5-2 at the Siri Fort Stadium here today.

The 29-year-old, who had won a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games here in 2010, scripted another memorable victory in front of a handful of cheering fans here when he saw off Srikanth 4-15 15-11 15-9 in the second men’s singles to give Delhi an unassailable 4-0 lead in the five-match rubber.

Korea Open Super Series finalist, Ajay Jayaram gave Delhi Acers a positive start as he saw off TATA Open winner Sameer Verma 15-10 15-12 in the opening men’s singles match.

Jayaram had an easy ride in the opening game as he broke off from 6-6 to gradually distance himself from Sameer to seal it with a smash at 14-10.

In the second game, Sameer showed better fight as he clawed his way back to 10-10 after trailing at 2-8 at the first break. However, Jayaram again surged ahead and grabbed the lead at 13-12 when the 21-year-old from Dhar found the nets. The Mumbai-born shuttler eventually shut the door with a jump smash.

Jayaram said: “It was an incredible start in the Tie to build pressure on the opponent. I played few matches against Sameer before and knew his style of play which helped me to create my strategy. I just put pressure on him from the first service and managed to continue till the last minute. I played my natural game and kept the game tight.”

Former men’s doubles World No. 1 pair of Koo Keat Kien and Tan Boon Heong then earned Delhi two crucial points after beating Malaysian duo of Hoon Thien How and Khim Wah Lim 15-9 15-10 in the hosts’ Trump match to take their lead to 3-0.

Benguluru then put the onus on Srikanth, who won the India Super Series here last year, to bring them back in the contest but the 22-year-old from Guntur could not deliver the goods.