Taekwondo Premier League: Bengaluru Ninjas, Delhi Warriors among teams to reach quarter-finals
Lucknow Nawabs and Maharashtra Avengers also reached the last-eight stage.
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Bengaluru Ninjas scored contrasting victories over Assam Heroes and Haryana Hunters to ease into the quarterfinals of the inaugural Taekwondo Premier League here on Saturday night.
Silver medallist in the Senior Nationals Prashanth Rana led Bengaluru’s charge, helping overcome a valiant Assam 12-2, 14-14, 10-9. In their second match in Group A, Prashanth was in thumping form, setting up an emphatic 21-15, 11-5, 35-3 victory.
Delhi Warriors trounced Hyderabad Gliders 22-1, 9-1, 30-4 and Lucknow Nawabs 19-6, 24-13, 8-8 to book a berth in the Last 8. Four-time national champion Sahil was the star for Delhi. Lucknow got the better of Hyderabad to join the quarterfinalists.
Maharashtra Avengers made light of losing India No. 1 Prithiviraj Chauhan during the weigh-in to enter the quarterfinals.
The country’s number two player Shivan Shetty led his team to an emphatic 11-2, 13-4, 11-1 victory over Himachal Hurricanes. Rajasthan Royals trounced Himachal Hurricanes 22-3, 14-1, 8-3.
Group C saw Gujarat Thunders zooming to the top with two straight wins. They first sneaked past Punjab Royals 10-6, 11-9, 14-4 and then recorded a one-sided 15-0, 11-0, 21-3 win over Chennai Strikers.
Manish Chavan, a gold medal winner in the Senior National Championship in 2018, and Satish were the other two players who did well for Maharashtra Avengers.
RESULTS
Group A: Bengaluru Ninjas beat Assam Heroes 12-2; 14-14; 10-9; Haryana Hunters bt Assam 6-4, 20-7, 7-5
Bengaluru bt Haryana 21-15, 11-5, 35-3
Group B: Lucknow Nawabs bt Hyderabad Gliders 19-5, 11-2, 11-3; Delhi bt Hyderabad 22-1; 9-1, 30-4; Delhi bt Lucknow 19-6, 24-13, 8-8
Group C: Gujarat Thunders bt R Punjab Royals vs 10-6, 11-9, 14-4; Punjab bt Chennai 10-7, 10-8, 8-4; Gujarat bt Chennai 15-0, 11-0, 21-3.
Group D: Maharashtra Avengers bt Himachal Hurricanes 11-2, 13-4, 11-1; Rajasthan bt Himachal 22-3, 14-1; 8-4; Rajasthan bt Maharashtra 7-0, 5-2, 4-0.