First-timers Ahmedabad Smash Masters marched into the semi-final of the Premier Badminton League (PBL) in emphatic fashion with a 5-0 win over Mumbai Rockets in their final league match on Tuesday.

At the Jawaharal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, the Ahmedabad side became the first to qualify for the semi-final. With the win Ahmedabad finished on top of the points table. On the other hand, Mumbai Rockets finished with 10 points and Chennai Smashers with 12 points as they were knocked out of the competition.

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Smash Masters dominated right from the very first match of the tie with their lead pair of Tai Tzu and HS Prannoy once again stamping ther class.

Smash Masters’ mixed doubles pair of Law Cheuk Him and Kamilla Rytter Juhl set the ball rolling with a 15-11, 15-7 win over the Mumbai pairing of Lee Yong Dae /Gabriela Stoeva.

Then Prannoy registered an upset 15-12, 15-12 win over World No 5 Son Wan Ho to make it 2-0 for Smash Masters. Sourabh Verma then demolished his brother Sameer 15-14, 15-11 in the trump match to ensure that Smash Masters’ progress. Thereafter, Tai Tzu dismantled Beiwen Zhang 15-9, 15-12 in quick time to put Smash Masters 3-0 ahead.

Lee Yong Dae and Tan Boon Heong salvaged the solitary win for the Rockets with a 15-10, 15-12 defeat of K Nandagopal and Lee Reginald in the final match.

Tai Tzu sealed the first game pretty easily, but in the second game her opponent fought back well in the second game. But the 23-year-old Tzu did not allow her opponent any opportunity to as she grabbed the match at 15-12.

Prannoy staged a brilliant fightback against the World No 5 as he edged out the much fancied opponent in the first game Thereafter in the second game, the Indian was engaged in a close battle yet again, before he pulled away in fine style.

Results: Ahmedabad Smash Masters beat Mumbai Rockets 5-0: Mixed Doubles: Law Cheuk Him/Kamilla Rytter bt Lee Yong Dae /Gabriela Stoeva 15-11, 15-7; Men’s Singles: HS Prannoy bt Son Wan Ho 15-12, 15-12; Sourabh Verma bt Sameer Verma 15-14, 15-11 (Trump); Women’s Singles: Tai Tzu bt Beiwen Zhang 15-9, 15-12; Men’s Doubles: K Nandagopal/Lee Reginald lost to Lee Yong Dae/Tan Boon Heong 10-15, 12-15.