China Open: Praneeth loses in quarters, Indian challenge ends

Changzhou (China), Sep 20 (IANS) India’s challenge at the ongoing China Open World Tour Super 1000 badminton tournament came to an end on Friday after B. Sai Praneeth went down fighting to World No. 9 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia in the quarter-finals. Praneeth lost 21-16, 6-21, 16-21 in a match that lasted for 55 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium.

The Indonesian gave a tough fight to Praneeth in the first game. However, the Indian shuttler kept his cool and went on to win it 21-16. The World No. 9 came back strongly in the second game, winning it by a big margin and forced the match into the decider.

In the final game, the Indian shuttler looked on course to proceed to the semi-finals at one stage as he led 12-7. However, he lost the rhythm and eventually lost 16-21 to crash out of the tournament.

–IANS
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