Hyderabad shuttler B Sai Praneeth wins Singapore Open final

Hyderabad: B Sai Praneeth annexed his first Super Series title when he beat his countryman Kidambi Srikanth 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in the final of the Singapore Open tournament in Singapore on Sunday. The 24-year-old Praneeth, who had a 4-1 record against Srikanth, lost the first game.

In the second game, Praneeth was down 1-6 before he staged a magnificent comeback. He snatched the initiative from Srikanth with clever game and went to dominate the second game. The 24-year-old Praneeth was in total



control against Srikanth to breeze through the third game.

Praneeth thus became the fourth Indian after Saina Nehwal, Srikanth and PV Sindhu to win a Super Series title. He, of course, became the second in men’s section after Srikanth to clinch a Super Series title.

Coach Pullela Gopichand was elated with the Indian show at the Singapore Open. “It is a victory for Indian badminton. I think Praneeth played a clever game in the final,’’ he said.