Sai Praneeth soars high in Singapore
April 17, 2017
HYDERABAD: Labelled a one-match wonder, the talented Bhamidipati Sai Praneeth, who has the prize scalps of the likes of Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat in his resume, has been criticised for lacking consistency. On Sunday, the 24-year-old became the second Indian male player to win a Super Series crown. Coming from one game down, Praneeth outclassed his training partner Kidambi Srikanth, who was the first Indian man to win a Super Series title, 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in the Singapore Open.
Very few had given Praneeth a chance against Srikanth but those who know the world No. 30 were hardly surprised at the result. Even at the Pullela Gopichand Academy, where both shuttlers learned the nuances of the game, the trainees and coaches placed bets equally on both players.
Though Praneeth has not won a Grand Prix Gold so far – his major international title was Canadian Grand Prix last year – he is an extremely talented shuttler. On Sunday, in front of a packed stadium in Singapore City, Praneeth showed that he has the class to go the miles.
