Picture Credit: Twitter
India’s top-ranked men’s singles shuttler HS Prannoy continued his winning streak and reached the final of Australian Open 2023 on August 5 in Sydney, Australia. Prannoy, who is the only Indian to sit in the top 10 of the men’s singles BWF rankings, dominated compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat to make it to the final of the Super 500 tournament. Prannoy secured a 21-18, 21-12 victory against Rajawat in a lop-sided battle that lasted for around 50 minutes.
This was 21-year-old Rajawat’s maiden semifinal appearance in a Super 500 tournament, as he walked into the round by knocking out fellow Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth in the quarterfinal clash.
In the summit clash of the tournament, the 31-year-old Prannoy will lock horns with China's Weng Hong Yang. Notably, Prannoy defeated Weng in the final of Malaysia Masters to win the summit clash in May 2023. Speaking of the semifinal clash, it started on a positive note for Rajawat as he took the score to 2-0 in the beginning. However, Prannoy soon started earning points, and in no time turned the game into his favour.
Prannoy maintained his lead against the Madhya Pradesh-born shuttler, but Rajawat couldn't keep up the work against the 31-year-old.
