India Open qualifiers: Sai Praneeth kneels down against Suppanyu Avihingsanon
Men’s Singles campaigner of India Sai Praneeth B could not continue his successful run in Yonex Sunrise India Open and bid adieu to home event after bowing down against Suppanyu Avihingsanon in qualifying round on April 24, 2012.
Both players snapped each other’s heels throughout the 58-minute tussle and finished this fight with remarkable figures of 19-21, 21-19 and 23-21.
The Indian lad took off in right manner but could not continue his flight as Suppanyu from Thailand blew him away with a gutsy performance in the last stages.
In opening game, Sai Praneeth got into authoritative position with some quick points and he pushed his rival on back foot by putting a decent margin of 11-8 before the interval.
After one-minute break, he made some mistakes which allowed his challenger to add five crucial points in his total but Praneeth managed to bag first match point with 21-19 score on the board.
Next game was a replay of previous one but in reverse manner as the Thai shuttler stormed back and levelled the match.
Suppanyu was trailing behind his competitor in first half of the set but he came back from five-point deficit in later half. He caught his rival at 11-11 and then maintained a slight edge until game point situation.
Suppanyu turned his rival’s plan of straight-set victory into dust and won the crucial set 21-19.
The Youth Commonwealth Games Bronze medallist Sai Praneeth did not lose his nerves and showed a strong character in the decider. He established a decent lead of five points and remained in commanding position with 11-8 until half-time.
However, after mid-game break he lost his grip and the Thai shuttler took his score from 11 to 18 points. This swift move of Suppanyu made final set a survival of the fittest war and Praneeth also put all he had to avoid a woeful exit.
Both players remained toe-to-toe until 21-21 but the Thai campaigner earned last two points and finished this match in his favour with 23-21 margin.
The opening day of India Open was a disappointing day for the home players as none of them could clear the qualifying round to surge into main draw.
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