Palembang: Young Indian shuttler HS Prannoy clinched the maiden title of his career after winning the USD 1,25,000 Indonesian Masters Grand Prix Gold beating local favourite Firman Abdul Kholik in the finals here at the GOR Jakabaring stadium on Sunday.
In a 43-minute battle, fifth seed Prannoy, who finished runners-up at the USD 50,000 Vietnam Grand Prix in Hochiminh City last week, got the better of qualifier Firman 21-11 22-20 in the men's singles competition. The 22-year-old Prannoy dished out a dominating performance in the opening game as he opened up a 6-2 lead early on and then kept increasing the distance. He then took five straight points take 1-0 lead.
Firman regrouped himself in the second game and moved 5-3 up but Prannoy fought back at 6-6 and grabbed a slender 9-7 lead. The Indonesian once again surged ahead to 12-9 and thereafter making it a gruelling battle, but Prannoy managed to earn a four-match point. However, Firman clawed back with four straight points to draw level at 20-20. Prannoy then dug deep to reel off the next two points to seal the door on his opponent and celebrate his first title victory.
“I am really happy with the win. I never thought could win a Grand Prix gold title. I was really upset after losing in Vietnam. But I thought I will take one match at a time here and it started working,” he said.
“My body was tired but I pushed myself each day and was confident of beating him,” he added.
