A defiant H.S.
A defiant H.S. Prannoy shrugged off a one-game deficit to pull Mumbai Rockets level on points with Awadhe Warriors after two matches in the second semi-final of the Premier Badminton League played at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, on Friday.
Faced with the task of restoring parity after the Rockets lost the opening mixed doubles match, Prannoy defeated Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 12-15, 15-7, 15-9.
The Thai southpaw was calm in the opening set, finding winners with ease. Prannoy was visibly frustrated after the game ended 15-12 in his opponent’s favour, and he used the frustration to fuel a brilliant comeback.
The Rockets player was relentless in the second game, pushing Tanongsak into erring more often than not as he clinched the game 15-7 to force the match into the decider.
The decider saw both players up the tempo initially before Prannoy ran away with the game 15-9 to seal a well-earned victory.
Earlier, it was a fight to the finish between the Warriors and Rockets in the mixed doubles. The Warriors’ Christinna Pedersen and Bodin Issara fought back valiantly from a game down to defeat Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Vladimir Ivanov 12-15, 15-13, 15-14.
