Badminton: Prannoy goes down fighting in Vietnam Open final

Despite playing well, Indian shuttler HS Prannoy had to settle for the runner-up spot to Indonesian top seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the men's singles final of the $50,000 Vietnam Open Grand Prix yesterday

New Delhi: Despite playing well, Indian shuttler HS Prannoy had to settle for the runner-up spot to Indonesian top seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the men's singles final of the $50,000 Vietnam Open Grand Prix yesterday.


India's HS Prannoy. Pic/Getty Images 

Rumbaka clinched the title beating fifth seeded Prannoy 18-21, 21-15, 21-18 in an hour and three minutes at the Tan Binh Sports Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. The 22-year-old Kerala shuttler came home richer by $1,900 (approximately R one lakh).

After the first two games were split, Rumbaka took a massive 11-3 lead in the decider. The Indian, World No 50, tried fighting back but the Indonesian had enough leeway to reach matchpoint (20-15).

Prannoy saved three match points but the World No 25 eventually prevailed. "I was not steady enough in my defence and he took advantage of that.

In the third game, I was down 3-11 but played well to reach 18 points. This final appearance will help me rise in the rankings," Prannoy told IANS.

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