How do the Delhi Acers stack up?

Ajay Jayaram will play for the Delhi AcersThe Delhi Acers owned by the Infinite Computer Solutions will representative for the capital in the 2016 Premier Badminton League. The team have a formidable set of players, each capable of beating anybody on their day.The Delhi side will play their home matches DDA Badminton & Squash Stadium at Siri Fort and play host to the third leg of the competition on January 7th and 8th.Here’s a SWOT Analysis of the team.

#1 Strengths

Tommy Sugiarto will be the key for the Delhi Acers

Like in the case of the Bengaluru team, the strength for the Delhi side lies in its Men’s Singles contingent. In World No. 11 Tommy Sugiarto, No.17 Rajiv Ouseph and No.21 Ajay Jayaram, the Acers possess a formidable trio who will pose a threat to nay body in the competition.

The Acers also have a good set of doubles players in the form of Gabrielle Adcock from England and Akshay Dewalkar and Aparna Balan from India. Each of the three can provide headaches to the opposition and Acers will hope that these players help them win, most if not all games that they would feature in.

#2 Weakness

Can P.C Thulasi raise her game on the day

The Acers will have a look at the set under their disposal and will feel that they are a bit thin as far the Women’s Singles is concerned. Their fortunes will be depended on World No.96 P.C Thulasi, who didn't have the greatest of 2015s, entering the quarterfinals of two tournaments and getting knocked in either the opening or the second rounds in the rest.

Giving her company in the Women’s Singles is Shikha Gautam, a 17-year-old from Nashik who was ranked number 1 in the Under-17 category last year.

The lack of an experience in this category means that the rest will have to take additional responsibility to win their respective games and ensure that the Women’s Singles results doesn't significantly affect the overall scoreline.

#3 Opportunities

Ajay Jayaram will look to begin his 2016 on a positive note

The Women’s Singles may be a weakness, but the Acers, in particular, Shikha Gautam will look to make the most of the League in order to showcase her potential. The 17-year-old will certainly face some stiff competition during the course of the tournament, but it will be interesting to see if she can raise her game and give her opponents a run for their money.

It will also be a good opportunity for someone like an Ajay Jayaram to get his season off to a positive start. The 28-year-old had a good second half of 2015 and will certainly be looking to one final push and hope to perhaps seal a maiden berth at an Olympics.

#4 Threats

Gabrielle Adcock will be a threat on any day

The Delhi Acers have many players who could be the dark horse and on their day beat anybody on the other side of the court. In Koo Kien Kaat and Tam Boon Heong of Malaysia, the team has an experienced Doubles pair, capable of competing against the best in the world.

Also, in the doubles fray is Adcock, who has 4 Commonwealth Games medals to her credit and was also recently crowned the Mixed Doubles champion at the Dubai Superseries Finals and in combination with a Kaat or a Heong or even an Akshay Dewalkar could form a threatening combination that would test the best.