Sai Praneeth Bhamidipati
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2017
Singapore Open
Praneeth clinches maiden Super Series title at Singapore Open , Apr 16, 2017: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
Praneeth prevailed 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in a 54-minute contest
Praneeth staged a remarkable comeback to dominate the proceedings and emerge a comfortable victor
It was the first all-Indian Super Series final in the history of the game SINGAPORE: Promising Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth clinched his maiden Super Series title at the Singapore Open after defeating compatriot K Srikanth in a historic all-Indian final on Sunday.
World No.30 Praneeth, who had won the Canada Open Grand Prix last year and reached the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold final this year, outmaneuvered Srikanth 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in the summit clash of the $350,000 event.
"It's always difficult to play someone with whom you play everyday. I am very happy to win today. The way I played in the tournament, I'm very happy. The support here for the Indians has also been very nice," an overwhelmed Praneeth said after the 54-minute clash.
It was the first time in the history of international badminton that two Indians were playing a Super Series final and it turned out to be a thrilling contest.
The two trainees of the Gopichand academy exploited every chink that they were aware of in each other's game.
In the first game, Srikanth played some angled shots to set up his points and then used his accurate smashes to seal them. He gathered many points on Praneeth's forehand with his brilliant returns.
Srikanth started with two lame returns but as the game progressed, he showed his class to outmaneuver his compatriot. The duo didn't go for long rallies and varied the pace with their repertoire of strokes.
It was Srikanth who grabbed an 11-7 advantage during the first break with a cross-court smash which Praneeth couldn't return despite a full stretch dive.
Praneeth too made Srikanth run for every point before closing in to make it 14-15.
Srikanth did not relent either and came up with down the line smashes to grab five game points.
In the second game, Srikanth rushed to a 4-1 lead but Praneeth clawed back at 7-7. The duo, which trains together at the Gopichand Academy, moved neck-and-neck till 10-10 before Praneeth grabbed a one-point advantage with Srikanth hitting wide.
Praneeth continued to dominate the proceedings and moved to a 20-17 lead when Srikanth made a service error. He then roared back into the contest when his compatriot hit wide.
In the decider, Praneeth carried the momentum and surged to a 7-3 lead which he consolidated to 11-5 at the break. It was another towering smash on Srikanth's backhand which gave him the lead.
The change of court didn't break Praneeth's rhythm as he continued to trouble Srikanth with his array of strokes and better net-play.
In the end, a drop shot gave Praneeth a 19-12 lead and Srikanth handed him the match point when he hit wide. Praneeth made it count to seal his first Super Series title when his compatriot again hit wide.
Ever since bursting onto the scene by winning the bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2010, Praneeth has managed to outwit some accomplished shuttlers such as former All England Champion Muhammad Hafiz Hashim of Malaysia, former Olympic and World champion Taufik Hidayat and World No.1 Lee Chong Wei.
But a win eluded him as he battled with a series of injuries to make early exits. However, things brightened up last year when he won in Canada.
Wins Thailand Open
HIGHLIGHTS
Praneeth lost the first game 17-21 but came back strongly to take the next two games
It was World No. 24 Praneeth's second title of the year after his Singapore Open Superseries triumph in April
HYDERABAD: Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth is on a roll as he completed a come-from-behind win to keep his good run going. Six weeks after winning the Singapore Open Super Series, the 24-year-old clinched his first Grand Prix Gold title clinching the $120,000 Thailand Open with a hard fought 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 victory against Christie Jonatan of Indonesia in Bangkok.
Showing no signs of nervousness despite losing the first game, Praneeth made an impressive comeback to get past the Indonesian youngster in a gruelling one hour 11 minutes contest. Having lost the first game, a determined Praneeth opened up with a 5-0 lead and extended it to 8-1 before Jonatan reduced the margin securing six straight points from 3-9. Thereafter, both players traded leads and at 14-15 Praneeth nudged ahead to 17-15 with some crafty work near the net. Though Jonatan exhibited his brilliance with his fast paced power-packed game, Praneeth looked in great touch as he moved sharply executing overhead smashes before wrapping up the second game with a crosscourt deceptive half-smash.
In the decider, Christie raced ahead as he took a 8-2 lead but Praneeth engaged his rival in long rallies and it was the watertight defense of the Indian that proved decisive. Praneeth returned everything back and frustrated his rival. He caught up with Christie at 9-9 and managed to stay ahead of his rival. Delighted after winning his second title on trot, Praneeth said that he had to work very hard in the final. "It was a very difficult and close match. I am happy that I managed to pull it off and win the title," said Praneeth, adding that he had focused a lot on the rallies. "The rallies were going too long. But I tried to build up the lead and win point after point," he added. Despite winning two titles on trot, Praneeth thinks he needs to be more consistent. "I am playing well now but I know that I need to be more consistent, win more titles," said Praneeth, who credited his victory to his coach Pullela Gopichand, family, relatives and all those who helped him in the Academy.
Always considered a precious talent, Praneeth was accused of not living up to expectations. But all that started changing when he won the Canada Open Grand Prix in July last year. He reached the final of the Syed Modi GP Gold in January. And in April he became the fourth Indian after Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu to win a Super Series title.
Congratulating Praneeth for the victory, Badminton Association of India president Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh to the Thailand Open champion. "It is a matter of extreme pride for me and the whole of BAI to see Sai take the podium in Thailand. I called him right after the game and congratulated him" Sarma said.
