Top seed Kidambi Srikanth made a rollicking start to the new season as he clinched the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold with a convincing win over China’s Huang Yuxiang in the men’s singles final here on Sun
Top seed Kidambi Srikanth made a rollicking start to the new season as he clinched the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold with a convincing win over China’s Huang Yuxiang in the men’s singles final here on Sunday.
World no. 9 Srikanth, who had reached the summit clash in the last edition as well, prevailed over the 73rd ranked Huang 21-13, 14-21, 21-14 to lay his hands on the crown and take home a cheque of $9,000.
It was his fifth title having won the 2013 Thailand Grand Prix Gold, the 2014 China Super Series Premier and the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold and the India Super Series last year.
However, the men’s doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar wasted two match points in the second game to go down 14-21, 24-22, 21-8 against the Malaysian pair of V. Shem Goh and Wee Kiong Tan in their first-ever Grand Prix Gold summit clash that lasted a little over an hour.
Among others in fray, Korean Sung Ji Hyun edged out Japan’s Sayaka Sato 12-21, 21-18, 21-18 to win the women’s singles title.
Srikanth came into the men’s final with a 1-0 record against Huang, having beaten him last week at the Malaysia Masters at Penang and the Indian showed better control and picked up the gaps well in the first game to bamboozle the Chinese.
The Indian led 11-8 at the break and continued his march after the interval, cruising to the game point when the Chinese pushed to the back of the court, failed to recover enough ground to return a net dribble. Srikanth then sealed the game with a smash.
In the second game, Srikanth blew a 11-7 lead to allow Huang make a roaring comeback.
