World No 10 H.S Prannoy began his new year in style as he registered a stunning victory over World No 3 Kidambi Srikanth 15-8, 15-11 in the Vodafone Premier Badminton League in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Prannoy's win kept Ahmedabad Smash Masters alive in the tie against Awadhe Warriors.
Prannoy, who is unbeaten in the PBL since last season, has now recorded his 10th successive win in the league, while Srikanth crashed to his second consecutive loss of the season.
Smash Masters are currently trailing 1-3 on the points in this five match duel with two matches remaining.
Earlier, Parupalli Kashyap came back from behind and beat Masters' Sourabh Verma 11-15, 15-13, 15-14 to send Awadhe 2-0 ahead (3-0 points).
Awadhe Warriors logged the first point of the tie after their mixed doubles pair Christina Pedersen and Tang Chun Man came from a game down to beat Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Law Cheuk Him 14-15, 15-12, 15-14.
East Bengal beat Indian Arrows 2-0 to consolidate top spot
East Bengal pumped in two quick goals in the space of three minutes to beat a spirited Indian Arrows 2-0 in a fast-paced match and consolidate their position at the top of I-League points table in New Delhi.
The visiting Kolkata heavyweights scored through Syrian Mahmoud Al Amna (13th minute) and Japanese midfield general Katsumi Yusa (16th) to walk away with three points at the Ambedkar Stadium.
With Tuesday's win, their fifth in eight matches, East Bengal maintained their top spot with 17 points. The Indian Arrows, on the other hand, dropped down to seventh in the 10- team league table with seven points from seven matches.
The Arrows had come into the home match with confidence after defeating Shillong Lajong 3-0 here and drawing Mohun Bagan 1-1 in Kolkata in their previous match, but today they were beaten by a superior side.
The absence of Arrows midfield duo of Amarjit Singh and Jeakson Singh was felt as East Bengal dominated the center of the park with Katsumi operating as the lynchpin for the Kolkata side. Prabhsukhan Singh Gill manned the Arrows goal as number one goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh has left the team.
Arrows captain Amarjit Singh received a red card after his second bookable offence in their previous match against Mohun Bagan while Jeakson was injured in the same match on December 29.
Ten-man Chennai City FC stun Mohun Bagan
Former champions Mohun Bagan suffered a disaster at their home ground with a 1-2 loss to 10-man Chennai City FC in an I-League football fixture in Kolkata.
The southern outfit took a sixth minute lead through Frenchman Jean-Michel Joachim but only to be reduced to 10 players after Pradeep Mohanraj was sent off in the 34th minute for handling the ball inside the box.
Ansumana Kromah brought up the equaliser from the resultant penalty in the 36th minute but it was Veniamin Shumeyko who headed home the winner in the 71st minute to hand Mohun Bagan their first loss of the season after six matches.
The loss also exposed the Sanjoy Sen-coached side's over reliance on their star Haitian forward Sony Norde who is out with a knee injury.
The familiar chants of 'go back Sanjoy Sen' echoed the Maidan with thousands booing the coach as it seems the days are numbered for the I-League winning Mohun Bagan coach.
It was Mohun Bagan's second successive home game as the I-League came to Kolkata Maidan for the first time.
Sen steps down after Mohun Bagan loss
Mohun Bagan's I-League winning coach Sanjoy Sen today stepped down after his side's 1-2 defeat at the hands of unfancied Chennai City FC at home ground.
Chennai City took a sixth minute lead through Frenchman Jean-Michel Joachim but they were reduced to 10 men after Pradeep Mohanraj was sent off in the 34th minute for handling the ball inside the box.
Ansumana Kromah brought up the equaliser for Mohun Bagan from the resultant penalty in the 36th minute but Chennai City's Veniamin Shumeyko headed home the winner in the 71st minute to script the first big upset of I-League this season.
This was Mohun Bagan's first defeat after seven matches and it came after a string of three draws.
"I did not have the mentality to continue after this loss and three home draws where we could not come back. We lost at home, I had decided that I would step down if that happened," Sen said at his last press conference at Mohun Bagan tent as unruly crowd hurled missiles at the venue.
Sen was appointed the chief coach for the Mariners in December 2014 after the club parted ways with technical director Subhas Bhowmick and was instrumental in their I-League triumph in the 2014-15.
Kerala Blasters sack coach after woeful show of team in ISL
Kerala Blasters today sacked their head coach Rene Meulensteen following their woeful performance so far in the Indian Super League football season.
The decision to sack the former Manchester United assistant coach came after the Blasters suffered a 1-3 defeat at home to Bengaluru FC on December 31.
Assistant coach Thangboi Singto will be temporarily in-charge of the side before the Blasters announce a replacement for Dutchman Meulensteen.
The Blasters, last season's runners-up side, are now at the eighth spot in the 10-team league table with just one win from seven matches. They have four draws and two losses to collect just seven points so far.
The Sachin Tendulkar co-owned side failed to impress this season so far despite having signed high profile players such as Dimitar Berbatov, Wes Brown, Sandesh Jhingan and C K Vineeth.
"Kerala Blasters and head coach Rene Meulensteen have decided to mutually part ways with immediate effect due to the latter's personal reasons," a release from Kerala Blasters said.
