HS Prannoy defeated compatriot Parupalli Kashyap in the all-Indian finale at the US Open Grand Prix Gold at Anaheim in California, on Sunday. The second seed posted a 21-15, 20-22, 21-12 win to claim his first men’s singles title for this season.
Feels great to win this one, #USAGPG champion 2017! Defeated my academy mate @parupallik in a tough battle. Thank you all for your support! pic.twitter.com/pNdCNZXWFo
— PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) July 24, 2017
Earlier, it was Kashyap who began the match on a sure footing in the opening game. But the world No 23 made the uphill climb to overturn Kashyap’s initial advantage to claim the lead in the match. The second game was more closely fought with Kashyap trying his best to keep himself in the reckoning in the match. At 20-all in the game, it was then Kashyap who went for the push levelling the final at a game apiece.
Unlike in the first two games, the decider saw Prannoy take an early lead and despite all of Kashyap’s efforts to try and regain back the momentum, the untroubled Prannoy cruised to a comfortable win at the end of 65 minutes.