Prannoy beats Kashyap to clinch US Open title
New Delhi, July 24: H.S. Prannoy notched up a thrilling three-game win over Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap to clinch the $120,000 US Open Grand Prix Gold in Anaheim, California.
Prannoy, who has lost a fair amount of time to nagging injuries, dished out a gritty performance to defeat Kashyap 21-15, 20-22, 21-12 in a summit clash that lasted an hour and five minutes.
“It was a good match, pretty intense match, a high quality match by both me and Kashyap. I think after losing the second game narrowly, I was calm and patient enough and it worked for me,” Prannoy said. “In the second game, Kashyap was playing better than the first. He was putting a lot of pressure at the net and finishing the lifts that I was producing, that made the whole difference.
“But in the third game, I changed my strategy a bit and I had a good lead. So yeah, overall happy with the tournament. Now I am looking forward to the New Zealand Open.”
The duo had a 1-1 record having played each other at the 2014 German Open last time.
In the first game, Kashyap moved to a 7-1 lead before entering the interval with a smash to Prannoy’s forehand, who reduced the gap to 9-12 and then turned the tables with five straight points.
Kashyap clawed back to level at 15-15 but Prannoy looked unstoppable as he reeled off six straight points to grab the first game with smash.
In the second game, Kashyap took a 14-9 lead at one stage but Prannoy drew parity at 15-15. Kashyap continued to exert pressure on his younger colleague and had a 20-18 lead. Prannoy grabbed two points before Kashyap roared back with another superb smash.
In the decider, Prannoy changed his strategy. His deft touch in the lifts and better net strokes earned him points as he opened a 13-7 lead. — PTI