Logo

Logo

China Open 2019: Sai Praneeth loses in quarters, Indian challenge ends

In the final game, the Indian shuttler looked on course to proceed to the semifinals at one stage as he led 12-7. However, he lost the rhythm and eventually lost 16-21 to crash out of the tournament.

China Open 2019: Sai Praneeth loses in quarters, Indian challenge ends

B Sai Praneeth file image. (Photo by STR / AFP)

World Championships bronze medalist Sai Praneeth suffered a three-game loss to world no 9 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the quarterfinals to draw curtains on India’s campaign at the China Open World Tour Super 1000 badminton tournament at Changzhou on Friday.

Praneeth went down fighting Ginting of Indonesia in the quarter-finals. He lost 21-16, 6-21, 16-21 in a match that lasted for 55 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium.

Advertisement

Talking about the first game, the Indonesian made Praneeth fight tooth and nail. Despite all, the Indian shuttler kept his cool and went on to win it 21-16. The World No 9 came back strongly in the second game, winning it by a big margin and forcing the match into the decider.

Advertisement

In the final game, the Indian shuttler looked on course to proceed to the semifinals at one stage as he led 12-7. However, he lost the rhythm and eventually lost 16-21 to crash out of the tournament.

Last month, Praneeth had reached the semifinals of the World Championships to end India’s 36-year wait for a men’s singles medal at the tournament. He finished with bronze after losing to Kento Momota in the semifinal.

He emulated legendary Prakash Padukone, who had also won a bronze at the 1983 edition.

(With agency inputs)

Advertisement