Indian shuttler Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth is on a roll as he completed a come-from-behind win to keep his good run going. Six weeks after winning the Singapore Open Super Series the 24year-old clinched his first Grand Prix Gold title clinching the $120,000 Thailand Open with a hard fought 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 victory against Christie Jonatan of Indonesia in Bangkok.
Showing no signs of nervousness despite losing the first game, Praneeth made an impressive comeback to get past the Indonesian youngster in a gruelling one hour 11 minute contest. Having lost the first game, a determined Praneeth opened up with a 5-0 lead and extended it to 8-1 before Jonatan reduced the margin securing six straight points from 3-9.Thereafter, both players traded leads and at 14-15 Praneeth nudged ahead to 17-15 with some crafty work near the net.
Though Jonatan exhibited his brilliance with his fast-paced power-packed game, Praneeth looked in great touch as he moved sharply executing overhead smashes before wrapping up the second game with a deceptive cross-court half-smash. In the decider Christie raced ahead into an 8-2 lead but Praneeth engaged his rival in long rallies and it was the watertight defence of the Indian that proved decisive. Praneeth returned everything back and frustrated his rival. He caught up with Christie at 9-9 and managed to stay ahead of his rival. Delighted after winning his second title, Praneeth said that he had to work very hard in the final. “It was a very difficult and close match. I am happy that I managed to pull it off and win the title,” said Praneeth, adding that he had focused a lot on the rallies. “The rallies were going too long. But I tried to build up the lead and win point after point,” he added. Despite winning two titles on trot, Praneeth thinks he needs to be more consistent. “I am playing well now but I know that I need to be more consistent, win more titles,” said Praneeth, who credited his victory to his coach Pullela Gopichand, family, relatives and all those who helped him in the academy.
