Hanoi: Indian shuttler HS Prannoy has marched into the men’s singles final of the USD 50,000 Vietnam Open Grand Prix after a tough semi-final battle at the Tan Binh Sports Center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Seeded fifth, the Indian took 57 minutes to see off 10th seed Tan Chun Seang of Malaysia 21-16, 14-21, 24-22 in an edge-of-the-seat semifinal encounter to set up a summit clash with top seed Indonesian Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka.
After sharing the first two games, it was closely fought contest as the lead changed hands frequently in the decider. However, the 22-year-old Kerala shuttler held his nerves in crucial moments to have the last laugh.
In the final, the World No.50 Prannoy has a tough task ahead as he takes on Indonesian top seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka in the summit clash on Sunday.
“This is my first Grand Prix final. It is going to be a tough match. Rumbaka has been playing really well and beat Nguyen Tien Minh in the semi-final. So for me it is not going to be easy. I just have to focus on playing more rallies with him,” said Prannoy.
In the all Japanese women’s singles final, 2012 world junior champion Nozomi Okuhara will play against 2013 Asian junior champion Aya Ohori.
It will be a clash between two of Japan’s brightest prospects with 2012 world junior champion Nozomi Okuhara taking on 2013 Asian junior champion Aya Ohori in the women’s singles final.
Here are other matches at Vietnam Open Finals:
Mixed doubles
Muhammad Rijal-Vita Marissa (Indonesia) vs Irfan Fadhilah-Weni Anggraini (Indonesia)
Women’s doubles
Geovani Mareta Dea-Rosyita Eka Putri Sari (Indonesia) vs Gebby Ristiyani Imawan-Mahadewi Istirani Ni Ketut (Indonesia)
Men’s doubles
Andrei Adistia-Hendra Aprida Gunawan (Indonesia) vs Kenta Kazuno-Kazushi Yamada (Japan)