Australian Open 2023 Badminton Highlights: Prannoy loses final in three sets against Weng Hong Yang of China

The Chinese staged a comeback for the ages in the third game to win it from 14-19 down. Prannoy himself gave a brilliant account of his bouncebackability to win the second game after being routed in the first. However, the Chinese held his nerve under pressure in the deciding game to seal a memorable title win.

Absolute heartbreak for Prannoy as Weng has clinched the last game from nowehere and wins the Australian Open 2023.

Now it is match point for the Chinese as he makes a stunning comeback.

The Chinese has drawn level yet again and is not going down without a fight.

Prannoy has a match point here.

Weng has drawn level now and erases Prannoy’s five-point cushion.

The Chinese has a four-point streak and closes in on the Indian’s lead. This is going to be a photo-finish.

Prannoy is ecstatic as he sends a down the line smash.

Prannoy’s lead is trimmed to three points as he smashes this into the net.

Weng’s deceivingly subtle return drops in front of Prannoy and the Chinese has a point.

An intense and long rally but the Chinese ends it by sending it long.

Another unforced error by Prannoy and the Chinese chips away at the deficit.

This smash is just wide and the Chinese gets a crucial point.

Smashed down the line by the Indian and Prannoy now has a healthy lead.

The Chinese looks to make Prannoy change his direction but his return finds the net.

A four-point cushion for Prannoy as the Chinese commits an unforced error.

Smashed into the corner by the Chinese and he pulls one back.

Prannoy doesn’t let off after the interval and starts off with a blistering smash.

The Indian leads at the interval in the third game with a three-point cushion.

The Chinese pulls one back with a brisk return.

A three-point lead now for the Indian near the interval.

Prannoy with another excellent smash and Weng was left wrong-footed there.

Weng gets this to drop in front of Prannoy and takes a vital point.

Weng smashes into the net and Prannoy gets a two-point cushion now.

This is just inside the baseline and Prannoy steals a point as Weng misjudges it.

Another unforced error by Prannoy and the Chinese closes in.

Good jump smash from Weng and Prannoy get there on time to return.

Prannoy doubles his lead as he places this into the corner.

The Indian continues to stay ahead in this deciding game.

The Chinese opens his account in the third game.

He doubles his lead early on with a down the line smash now.

The Indian draws first blood in the deciding game with a smash.

Prannoy wins the second game 23-21 with a scintillating smash. We go into the third game.

Third game point for Prannoy as Weng smashes his wide and is distraught after that unforced error.

Now a wonderful smash by the Chinese in the corner of the court and he saves a second game point.

A second game point for the Indian with a brilliant winner after a powerful smash.

The Indian sends this just wide and it’s level again.

Now it’s game point for Prannoy with an exquisite backhand.

Another powerful smash from Prannoy and he has brilliantly drawn level from a tough position.

Prannoy pulls one back in the nick of time with a good smash.

Prannoy has sent his wide just by a whisker and the Chinese is now two points clear of the Indian.

Weng’s jump smash is wide and some respite for Prannoy.

Prannoy sends it long and another unforced error by the Indian takes the Chinese two points ahead.

The Chinese is back in the lead with a brisk return that has Prannoy scrambling to his left.

Weng pumps his fist as his jump smash is too hot to handle for Prannoy and the Chinese draws level.

An excellent point from Prannoy as he sends a tricky return and then wraps up the point with a good smash.

Impossible to return as Weng sends a cracking smash right back at Prannoy to draw level.

After winning a point, Prannoy sends this one wide to keep the Chinese in the hunt.

Weng is not going down without a fight and sends a quick return to chip away at the deficit.

The Chinese jumps and smashes this into the net and a relieved Prannoy sends out another roar.

Weng places it wide of Prannoy and the Indians stretches but cannot send the return.

Weng is unable to return Prannoy’s smash and the Indian maintains and slender lead.

Prannoy bags a point as he looks to build on his lead.

A quick return, placed with perfection and Prannoy has no answer to this one.

A slight misjudgement from Prannoy as he leaves this thinking it is going long but it falls just inside the baseline.

Prannoy has a vital three-point lead now at the interval in the second game.

Weng’s backhand now finds the net and the Indian is visibly pumped.

Weng pulls one back with a good smash that forces Prannoy to stretch, but to no avail.

The Indian builds on his lead now. Brilliant fightback from Prannoy.

The Chinese’s smash goes wide and Prannoy takes the lead for the first time today.

Prannoy draws level as Weng jump smashes into the net.

An excellent smash and Weng has no clue how to receive this.

A very long rally comes to an end with Prannoy smashing but only finding the net.

Prannoy is not going down without a fight and does well to send a return, which the Chinese can only hit into the net.

Just as Prannoy was looking to fightback, the Chinese has doubled his lead.

Another unforced error as Prannoy sends this long. The Chinese is ahead by two now.

Another cracking smash, this time down the line, and the Indian is fighting back well.

Unlucky again as Prannoy just sends this long again after receiving a smash well.

Prannoy sends out a loud roar as he sends a brilliant cross-court smash to outsmart Weng.

First point on the board for the Indian.

Prannoy on the backfoot straightaway in the second game as Weng sends a quick return and the Indian cannot receive it.

The Indian just sends this long and the Chinese doubles his lead.

Weng with a quick smash to take the first point of the second game.

Prannoy will need a massive change of fortunes to turn this around. The Chinese has completely dominated him in the first game.

Twelve game points for Weng Hong Yang and Prannoy is looking a pale shadow of himself.

Weng brilliantly returns Prannoy’s smash and the Indian finally sends it long.

A 10-point cushion now for the Chinese as Prannoy sends this long again.

Weng Hong Yang continues his dominance and looks to seal this game quite comfortably.

The Chinese takes a huge lead at the interval in the first game as he pulls ahead with a flurry of points.

Prannoy goes long and Weng takes a two-point lead now.

The Korean pair outsmarts its Chinese counterpart with a 21-18, 21-16 straight games win. Prannoy’s final is up next.

The two have met only once so far and the Indian won that match 21-19, 13-21, 21-18 in the Malaysia Masters earlier this year.

R32 – Beat Kodai Naraoka (JPN) 21-19, 21-11

R16 – Beat Shesar Hiren Rhustavito (IDN) 16-21, 21-10, 21-9

QF – Beat Chou Tien Chen (TPE) 21-10, 21-16

SF – Beat Lee Zii Jia (MAL) 21-19, 13-21, 21-13

R32 – Beat Cheuk Yiu Lee (HKG) 21-18, 16-21, 21-15

R16 – Beat Yu Jen Chi (TPE) 19-21, 21-19, 21-13

QF – Beat Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (IDN) 16-21, 21-17, 21-14

SF – Beat Priyanshu Rajawat (IND) 21-18, 21-12

Prannoy will be in action in the men’s singles final right after the ongoing women’s doubles final between Liu/Tan of China and Kim/Kong of Korea. Kim/Kong have won the first game 21-18.

Star Indian shuttler HS Prannoy looked in fine fettle as he registered a comprehensive win over young compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat to storm into the final of the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament here on Saturday. It will be a second Super 500 final appearance of the season for the 31-year-old Prannoy, who rode on his power and precision to outwit the 21-year-old Rajawat 21-18, 21-12 in the men’s singles semifinals here.

The Australian Open 2023 men’s singles final between H.S. Prannoy and Weng Hong Yang will be held on Court 1. There is no live telecast of the match in India. However, the live stream of the match will be available on BWF TV on YouTube.