Australian Open: Weng Hong Yang defeats HS Prannoy in the title match despite fighting

In the Australian Open Super 500 badminton competition final on Sunday in Sydney, China’s Weng Hong Yang defeated India’s HS Prannoy.

The Indian badminton player lost 9-21, 23-21, 20-22 in little under one hour and thirty-nine minutes in his second season final.

Prannoy has won the next six games after losing the first game eight times this year, including the quarterfinal matchup with World No. 2 Anthony Ginting.

Before Weng pulled off an incredible comeback in the final after falling down 14-19, everything seemed to be following the same script.

The 31-year-old from Kerala recovered from an early game loss, but she ultimately came in second behind Weng after blowing a five-point lead in the final game.

Prannoy made a lot of mistakes in the opening game, and Weng effectively overcame a 6-6 tie by using his jump smashes. The Chinese scored 12 game points as Prannoy once again sprayed the ball into the net as the Indian kept missing his attempts. When Prannoy went long, the Chinese converted.

Prannoy enjoys being in such a stressful environment and once again displayed his anxiety. Weng took a 3-0 lead early on, but the Indian quickly cut it to 2-4 with a powerful smash.

After Weng’s forehand missed the mark and Prannoy responded with another smash, the score was evened at 7-7. He then took the lead. At the half, the Indian used a forehand jump smash to gain a three-point lead.

With some excellent placement, Weng was able to stay in the game, but Prannoy maintained his lead at 13-11 with another cross winner. With another drive near the backline, the Chinese continued the pressure on his opponent, and at 15-15, he clawed back with a body smash.

Prannoy’s forehand was smashed by Weng, who then quickly regained the lead at 17-16. Weng took a medical break when the score was knotted at 19-19 after many strong rallies.

On the restart, Prannoy fired a whipping backhand in an attempt to win a game point, but it missed the mark. Another game point was awarded to the Indian after he made a diving save to his left. It was once again salvaged by Weng’s powerful cross smash.

When the score was 21-21, Weng’s forehand smash sailed wide, giving Prannoy his third game point. This time, the Indian won a flat net exchange to force a tiebreaker.

In the third game, Prannoy scored two accurate returns on his opponent’s backhand to take a 6-3 lead. However, few unforced mistakes from the Indian allowed Weng to reduce the deficit to 6-7.

With another straight smash, Prannoy increased his lead to three points at 10-7 before the break. Weng kept making too many mistakes as the Indian moved forward. In order to make it 15-9, he also delivers a crisp straight smash.

Prannoy waited patiently for chances and eventually made the transition to 17-14. In order to increase the score to 19-14, the Indian then launched another powerful straight smash.

Following three points won by Weng, Prannoy sent the shuttle to the net, and the two shuttlers slumped to the court after a strenuous 71-shot rally.

Weng displayed steely grit as he came back to tie the game at 19-19, scoring his fifth consecutive point.

After that, Weng salvaged a championship point with a fortunate net cord after Prannoy won a net battle to take it.

The Indian was then jammed by a smash by the Chinese, who then sent the shuttle long to give Weng the championship.

Weng, the number 24 player in the world, is interestingly the same opponent that Prannoy overcame in the Malaysia Masters final to earn his first solo victory in six years in May. Additionally, it was their only encounter on the global circuit to date.

9th in the world In the first round, Prannoy overcame Yu Jen Chi of Taiwan 19-21, 21-19, 21-13 before overcoming Hong Kong’s Cheuk Yiu Lee 21-18, 16-21, 21-15. He defeated Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia in the quarterfinals 16-21, 21-17, 21-14.

In the men’s singles semifinals on Saturday, the 31-year-old used his strength and dexterity to easily defeat the 21-year-old compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat 21-18 21-12.

Six tiers make up the BWF World Tour: World Tour Finals, four Super 1000s, six Super 750s, seven Super 500s, and eleven Super 300s. The BWF Tour Super 100 level is another event level that awards ranking points.

According to the BWF tournament rating system, the Super 500 is a Grade 2 (level 4) competition.