Dynamite News NZ Open: Shuttler Praneeth bows out in semis
B. Sai Praneeth suffered a major blow as he crashed out of the New Zealand Open Badminton Championship after going down against second-seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.
Auckland: Ace Indian shuttler B. Sai Praneeth suffered a major blow as he crashed out of the New Zealand Open Badminton Championship after going down against second-seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia here on Saturday.
After comfortably winning the first game, Praneeth failed to capitalise on it and slumped to a 21-14, 19-21, 8-21 defeat at the hands of his Indonesian opponent in a thrilling semi-final clash of the men's singles event that lasted a little more than one hour.
Praneeth clinched the first game easily and was also leading the second game, looking likely to reach the finals of the tournament.
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However, after the score was tied at 19-19 in the second game, Christie bounced back strongly and never looked back to clinch the deciding third game 21-8 and cruise into the finals.
With Praneeth's defeat, India's challenge at the tournament also folded.
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Yesterday, Sameer Verma crashed out of the tournament after slumping to straight-games defeat at the hands of top-seed Lin Dan of China.
In the men's doubles event, the Indian duo of Manu Attri and B.Sumeeth Reddy had also bowed out of the tournament after suffering a 10-21, 15-21 loss against the Thailand team of Bodin Isara and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet. (ANI)