PHOTOS: Ashwini's Pune beat Jwala's Delhi in IBL opener

Former women doubles combination of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who won India's second bronze in 2011 World Championship, faced off each other, but this time as rivals, representing their respective franchises Delhi and Pune.

It turned out to be an exciting clash but it was Ashwini and Joachim Fischer Nielsen who held their nerves to surpass Jwala and Kien Keat Koo 21-19, 16-21, 11-3 in a hard-fought battle for supremacy.

With the victory, Pune notched up a 3-2 win over Delhi and grabbed crucial four points (3 + one bonus point) and Delhi had to settle with two points.

India's up and coming youngster Sai Praneeth gave Delhi Smashers a winning start in their IBL opening match against Pune Pistons, in New Delhi, on Wednesday.

He beat Nguyen Tien Minh of Pune Pistons 21-16, 21-20 in the opening match of the tournament.

Krrish Delhi Smashers captain Jwala Gutta shows her delight after Praneeth won his first match to give them a winning start.

Praneeth lived up to his reputation of giant-slayer as he dished out an attacking game to unsettle Tien Minh, who won the bronze at the recently-concluded World Championship in China.

World No. 2 Julia Schenk of Germany crushed Thailand's Jindapon Nichaon  21-15, 21-6 in just 32 minutes to draw Pune Pistons level at 1-1.

"I am happy with the way I played and quite enjoyed the crowd. It was a bit of upset in the beginning for our team today but possibly that just goes to proof that it happens in a lot of matches but the competition was good. I think I am one of the more experienced players in the world and I feel good about sharing my experience with others," she said.

World No.2 Malaysian combo of Kien Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan gave Delhi Smashers the lead when they sent packing the Indian pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave
Thomas 21-13 21-16 in the men's doubles match.

Saurabh Verma of Pune Pistons beat HS Prannoy of Delhi Smashers 21-16, 19-21, 11-5 to level the scores at 2-2 and force the match into a decider.

Pune Pistons clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory on day one of the inaugural Indian Badminton League in New Delhi, on Wednesday after the mixed doubles combination of Ashwini Ponnappa and Joachim Fischer Nielsen got the better of Jwala Gutta and Kien Keat Koo of Krissh Delhi Smashers.

Ponnappa and Fischer Nielsen won the deciding rubber 21-19, 16-21, 11-3 to start off the tournament on a winning note.