HS Prannoy combines trick shot with class to enter Swiss Open final
HS Prannoy made a tournament final for the first time in five years. He was at the 2017 US Open Sunday in what seems like eons ago, not knowing that the next one would take half a decade to fetch up. But like all of India’s earnest men’s singles players living in the shadow at times and luckless often, Prannoy never stopped loving badminton, a game he sculpts and savours and nurses and nurtures into fragments of perfection. Like the ‘Jerry shot’ that came off spectacularly when he beat Anthony Ginting 21-19, 19-21, 21-18 at the Swiss Open Super 300 final.
The Jerry shot was christened ‘Jerry Special’ by doubles specialist Pranav Jerry Chopra soon after the Saturday semis at Basel. That provenance might be one mighty chortle and a bit of a lark, but the trick shot came into being in one of the multi-shuttle practice sessions that India’s trainees singles and doubles at Hyderabad undertake, where they attempt to master a variation of deception with endless repetitions. Trick shots still need tasering crackles to work. (READ MORE)
HS Prannoy is beaten and Christie does it convincingly. Pinpoint precise Jonatan Christie of Indonesia defeated Prannoy 21-12, 21-18 for his first title in two and half years.
This time Prannoy is moving better and he is able to reach in time for a return against a drop shot. He is not giving up and then a 33-shot rally ends up in the favour of the Indian. The lead is just one point for Christie.
In Game 2, it is once again the Indonesian who has moved ahead. His crosscourt work has been quite brilliant and Prannoy has no answers.
Christie wins the first game convincingly in just 19 minutes. Prannoy continues to make errors.
Christie takes the lead again at the mid-game break and builds on it. A couple of unforced errors does not help Prannoy either.
Prannoy hits back and capitalizes on the errors by Christie and quickly takes a lead. But it is a slender one.
Prannoy is on the backfoot as Christie is off to a good start. The Indonesian has a three-point lead.
The men's singles final is underway. Can Prannoy add another title in India's bag? Stay tuned
Second seed PV Sindhu faces no hurdles in winning the finals to claim her second title of the year. She defeats Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrung 21-16, 21-8 in a one-sided affair to clinch the Women's singles.
It seems like Busanan has completely given up after coming so close in the first game. She has hardly earned any points in the second. Meanwhile, Sindhu is two points away from title.
PV Sindhu in complete control of the second game, inching closer to the title. Sindhu leads 11-2 in the second game break/
Another strong start by Sindhu. She has gotten into the flow of the match and is now controlling the final. Busanan failing to find the answer to Sindhu's attack.
What a tight final underway in Basel. PV Sindhu takes the last five points to win the first game 21- 16. It was a tight game and the Thai shuttler made sure Sindhu had to work hard to earn every point.
Busanan keeps the pressure on Sindhu, who this time answers with a strong defence, keeps the rally to end it with a two-point advantage.
37 shots, the longest so far. What a thrilling final underway in Basel. The Thai takes the point, keeps Sindhu on her toes. The Indian shuttler still has an advantage by a point.
Tight drop shots keep Sindhu on her toes. If she can keep the court big for Sindhu, then Busanan might turn the match in her favour.
Sindhu began confidently but Busanan did well to keep it a tight game so far. Sindhu leads 11-9 at first mid-game break. A little unexpected from the opponent, Sindhu was expected to ease through the final.
Busanan did well to level the game at 5-5 after the aggressive start by Sindhu but the Indian shuttler moves ahead again. The Hyderabadi shuttler looks confident and has played against the Thai opponent multiple times to stay calm.
A steady start for PV Sindhu vs Busanan Ongbamrungphan, 3-1. Sindhu looking aggressive and hungry.
PV Sindhu is now in action. Sindhu takes on Busanan, who will be hoping today is not the day Sindhu makes it 16-1 against here on H2H.
The first final of the day is done! Gabriela STOEVA/Stefani STOEVA take the title after defeating Linda EFLER/Isabel LOHAU in the final of Swiss Open women's doubles.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Swiss Open Final. Two Indians have made it to the summit clash - PV Sindhu in women's singles and HS Prannoy in men's singles. Stay tuned for all the llive score and action of the match right here.