Australian Open 2023 Badminton Highlights: Prannoy beats Priyanshu Rajawat 21-18, 21-12 to enter final

Prannoy will face Weng Hong Yang in the men’s singles final on Sunday.

And a comprehensive victory for Prannoy. He wins 21-18, 21-12 to reach the final.

Eight match points for Prannoy.

Prannoy is surging ahead and in a hurry to wrap this up.

Prannoy is dictating terms no to the youngster.

Three points in a row for Rajawat and he is looking to make a comeback.

Two back-to-back points for Rajawat and that will give him some confidence.

Prannoy just sends this long as he looks to slice it delicately.

This is sent very wide by Rajawat and Prannoy takes a five-point lead.

First point for Rajawat after the break and much needed too.

Rajawat commits an error as he cannot send this over the net.

A four-point lead for Prannoy at the interval and he will want to wrap this up quickly.

Prannoy is pulling ahead now quite comfortably.

Rajawat goes for another cheeky backhand whip and only finds the net.

A delicate shot from Prannoy falls just in front of Rajawat.

Rajawat draws level in style with a brilliant smash down the line.

This crosscourt smash from Prannoy is long and Rajawat is closing in.

Prannoy finds the net and commits another unforced error.

A 41-shot rally and Prannoy just sends this wide as he looks to return the smash.

Error of judgement from Rajawat as he think this is going long but it isn’t.

Rajawat makes a despairing diving effort to return this drop shot but cannot get it over the net.

Good smash from Rajawat, Prannoy has to stretch but cannot return this.

Rajawat sends this long again and Prannoy has a comfortable lead.

Rajawat’s struggles with unforced errors continue as Prannoy doubles his lead.

A two-point lead for Prannoy as he sends this down the line.

Rajawat draws level after Prannoy draws first blood in Game 2.

Prannoy wins the first game 21-18 in a hard-fought battle that lasted 24 minutes.

A good backhand from Prannoy and he has two game points now.

Powerful smash from Prannoy and Rajawat cannot return this.

Rajawat once again draws level as Prannoy smashes this wide.

Rajawat gets a crucial point just as Prannoy looks to seal the game.

Rajawat sends this out and reviews and it confirms that it was just outside.

Rajawat’s smash is just wide and Prannoy back with the lead.

Scores are level again and this cat and mouse game continues.

Prannoy manages to just nudge ahead again as Rajawat sends this out.

Rajawat manages to draw level again thanks to Prannoy’s unforced error.

Prannoy sends a scorching riposte, a brilliant smash and Rajawat has no answer.

Another unforced error by Prannoy as this goes wide and scores are level again.

Prannoy cannot control this one as the shuttle goes over the baseline.

A crosscourt smash from Prannoy sends Rajawat scrambling to his left and he can’t make it.

Good smash from Prannoy and he is again in the lead.

Rajawat draws level as Prannoy commits another unforced error.

Prannoy sends this over the baseline and Rajawat is just a point behind now.

Rajawat’s backhand whip again finds the net.

A very long rally comes to an end and Rajawat has the last laught as Prannoy sends this just wide.

Rajawat gets the first point after the interval and closes in on the gap.

Prannoy leads at the interval in Game 1.

Rajawat pulls one back as Prannoy is unable to return this smash.

Rajawat’s smash bounces off the net and Prannoy takes a two-point lead.

Rajawat’s backhand whip finds the net and Prannoy is ahead again.

Rajawat draws level with some attacking play.

Unforced error by Prannoy as this finds the net.

Prannoy replies with a clinical smash of his own to widen the gap.

Another brilliant jump smash from Rajawat to trim the deficit.

A cracking jump smash from Rajawat gives him one point.

Rajawat smashes this into the net and Prannoy has doubled his lead again.

A service error from Prannoy and Rajawat closes in on the lead.

Another unforced error from Rahawat and Prannoy doubles his lead.

Prannoy takes the lead now from a 0-2 deficit.

Prannoy draws level as Rajawat commits two unforced errors.

Rajawat doubles his lead early on.

Rajawat starts the serve and opens his account.

The Indians are on the court and are warming-up ahead of this all-India semifinal clash.

The Japanese pair wraps up the match in straight games, winning 21-16, 21-18, to advance to the final.

The men’s doubles semifinal between Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan and Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han of Chinese Taipei is underway on Court 1. The Japanase pair has won the first game 21-16. Rajawat and Prannoy will be in action after this match ends.

The Indians have met just once before, at the Syed Modi India International in 2022. Prannoy had beaten Rajawat 21-11, 16-21, 21-18 in that game.

China’s Yang has beaten Malaysia’s Jia 21-19, 13-21, 21-13 in the men’s singles semifinals and will face either Rajawat or Prannoy in the summit clash.

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

R32 - Beat Nathan Tang (AUS) 21-12, 21-16

R16 – Beat Tzu Wei Wang (TPE) 21-8, 13-21, 21-19

QF – Beat Kidambi Srikanth (IND) 21-13, 21-8

The Australian Open 2023 men’s singles semifinal between Priyanshu Rajawat and H.S. Prannoy 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.

HS Prannoy and young Priyanshu Rajawat notched up contrasting wins to set up an enticing all-Indian men’s singles semifinal clash in the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament on Friday. Orleans Masters champion Rajawat will make his maiden appearance in a semifinal of a Super 500 tournament after knocking out compatriot Kidambi Srikanth 21-13, 21-8 in a lop-sided men’s singles quarterfinal. World No. 9 Prannoy came out victorious after a slugfest with world number 2 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia, bouncing back from an opening game reversal to notch up a gritty 16-21, 21-17, 21-14 win in a 73-minute battle.