HS Prannoy reaches ultimate of Australian Open

Star Indian shuttler HS Prannoy appeared in high-quality fettle as he registered a complete win over younger compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat to storm into the ultimate of the Australian Open Super 500 badminton match right here on Saturday.

It will probably be a second Super 500 ultimate look of the season for the 31-year-old Prannoy, who rode on his energy and precision to outwit the 21-year-old Rajawat 21-18 21-12 within the males’s singles semifinals right here.

The World quantity 9 Indian will sq. off in opposition to China’s Weng Hong Yang within the summit conflict on Sunday.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 🤩💥

2️⃣nd Super 500 ultimate on #BWFWorldTour this 12 months 🚀

📸: @badmintonphoto #AustraliaOpen2023#IndiaontheRise#Badminton pic.twitter.com/YTUyVeYeky

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 5, 2023

Interestingly, world quantity 24 Weng is similar opponent whom Prannoy had defeated within the ultimate of the Malaysia Masters to win his first particular person title in six years in May. It was additionally their solely assembly to this point within the worldwide circuit.

With the loss, Rajawat’s spectacular run this week ended with a first-ever tremendous 500 semifinal end.

Prannoy has appeared in supreme contact all through the week along with his beautiful come-from-behind win over
world quantity 2 and high seed Anthony Ginting within the quarterfinals being the spotlight.

On Saturday, Prannoy as soon as once more confirmed his functionality to attract out errors from his youthful opponent, who is thought for his quick hand and leg velocity and speedy web play.

Rajawat beg?an on a optimistic be aware along with his service incomes him a 2-0 preliminary lead however Prannoy slowly began developing his factors and pushed his younger challenger to err, registering 4 straight factors to maneuver forward.

Rajawat tried to step up the assault and two handsome leap smashes helped him to attract parity at 7-7 however unforced errors continued to undo his good work as Prannoy loved a two-point cushion on the interval.

The 21-year-old from Madhya Pradesh tried to remain within the rallies and grabbed 4 out of 5 factors after resumption to maintain snapping at his senior rival’s heels.

Prannoy slumped right into a pool of errors after the interval as Rajawat levelled the rating at 14-14. The teen managed to maneuver neck-and-neck until 18-18.

However, a affected person Prannoy grabbed two sport factors after unleashing a deadly smash and a backhand return after which sealed it comfortably to earn the bragging rights.

Nothing a lot modified after change of sides as Rajawat continued to wrestle along with his unforced errors, making life straightforward for Prannoy, who stored a excessive tempo and used his attacking play to open up a 5-2 lead early on.

Rajawat produced some good smashes however couldn’t maintain the assault as his efforts typically ended on the nets or extensive of the courtroom.

The teen, nonetheless, by no means stopped preventing and managed to claw again at 7-7 after successful 4 straight factors, together with a 41-shot rally.

It was when Prannoy despatched one extensive, discovered the online as soon as and landed a cross courtroom smash out that Rajawat produced a down-the-line smash however such moments have been too few because the senior Indian as soon as once more broke off to take a 11-7 benefit on the breather.

Prannoy maintained his four-point lead when Rajawat once more went extensive. The teen stored respiratory down his opponent’s neck with a couple of extra factors, making it 11-13.

But Rajawat couldn’t sustain the work in opposition to the skilled Prannoy, who produced a late burst with a flurry of smashes to leap to 18-11 and shortly grabbed eight match factors and transformed it on the first try.