SHUTTLER SAI PRANEETH CLINCHES TITLE AT THAILAND OPEN
THAILAND: Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth produced a spirited performance as he bounced back from a game down against fourthseed Jonathan Christie of Indonesia to clinch the Thailand Open title here on Sunday. After losing the first game, the third-seeded rebounded to register a 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 triumph over his Indonesian opponent Christie in an exhilarating summit showdown of the men’s singles event that lasted one hour and 17 minutes. On his way to the finals, Praneeth had registered a comfortable 21-11, 21-15 win over Pannawit Thongnuam of host nation in the last-four clash that lasted just 36 minutes. Last month, Praneeth fended off his fellow countryman Kidambi Srikanth in all-Indian men’s singles final to lift his first ever Super Series title at the Singapore Open. He posted a 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 win over Srikanth in a thrilling summit showdown.
Saina Nehwal had crashed out in the semi-finals after losing to Busanan Ongbamrumphan 21-19, 21-18.
PM CONGRATULATES
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated shuttler B Sai Praneeth for winning the USD 1,20,000 Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold men’s singles title in Bangkok today. “Congratulations to B Sai Praneeth for wining the Thailand Open badminton tournament. India is elated on the accomplishment: PM @narendramodi,” tweeted the official handle of the Prime Minister.