Bahrain International Challenge: Sai Praneeth reaches men's singles final

India’s Sai Praneeth reached the men’s singles final of the UAE Exchange Bahrain International Challenge 2012 badminton tournament being played at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam’s Diamond Jubilee Hall in Segaya, Manama.

The 71st ranked Indian halted the impressive run of fellow Indian K Srikanth 21-18, 21-18. The Andhra boy was up against the 125th ranked opponent who was not willing to give it away easily. The opening game was evenly contest but Praneeth played the crucial points better to close the first game at 21-18.

The second game was also played on an even kneel but Praneeth had the last laugh, winning it by an identical scoreline. Praneeth earlier put it across Indonesia’s Adi Pratama in the quarterfinals.

Praneeth now takes on world number 43 and top seed Niluka Karunaratne of Sri Lanka, who snuffed out the challenge of 87th ranked Indian H S Prannoy, 21-14, 22-20 in the semi-finals. The 20-year-old now earlier disposed off 558th ranked Indian Abhimanyu Singh in the quarterfinals.

In the women’s singles, India’s Arundhati Pantewene, ranked 147thin the world, caused a major upset, defeating Turkey’s world number 48 Yegit Neslihan 21-17, 21-17. She will now play fellow Indian 131st ranked Tanvi Lad in the final.