Pawar loses in final at Brazil Open

Fourth seed Pawar squandered a first game advantage to lose 21-18, 11-21, 17-21 to the top-seeded Malaysian in a match that lasted an hour and 20 minutes.

Pawar had lost to Zulfadli in the 2013 Australian Badminton Open. It is his second loss to the World No. 40.

Indian shuttler Anand Pawar suffered a narrow defeat against top seed Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia in a thrilling men’s singles final of the Brazil Open Grand Prix, here on Sunday.

Fourth seed Pawar squandered a first game advantage to lose 21-18, 11-21, 17-21 to the top seeded Malaysian in a match that lasted an hour and 20 minutes here.

Pawar had lost to Zulfadli in the 2013 Australian Badminton Open. It is his second loss to the World No. 40.