K. Srikanth wins the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold title

FILE PHOTO: K Srikanth

World No. 61 Indian shuttler K. Srikanth defeated the World No. 7 Thai shuttler Boonsak Ponsana in the finals of SCG Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold Tournament. Srikanth who was the 13th seed player of the tournament, defeated the top seeded player by 21-16 21-12 in a match which lasted for just 34 minutes. This is the maiden level three title for the young Indian shuttler.

The 20-year-old Indian shuttler looked in top form in this match. Trailing by 0-2 in the first game, Srikanth grabbed the next 5 points to make the score 5-2. Leading by 11-8 at the mid game interval of the first game, he took the next 2 points to make the score 13-8. After that, it was all Srikanth in the first game.

Ponsana looked a bit tougher opponent at the start of the second game but after few minutes, Srikanth showed his class as he took 5 points in a row when the scores were 4-4 and then never looked back, maintaining this lead till the end of this game. Srikanth, having 9 match points in the second game, won that game 21-12.

There was also a bit of disappointment in the Indian camp as no other Indian was able to make it to the finals of this tournament. World No. 2 and top seed in Women’s singles, Saina Nehwal lost to a much lower ranked Indonesian player in the Quarterfinals of this tournament. Both Srikanth and Saina will now participate in the Djarum Indonesia Open Superseries Premier Tournament starting from 11th June.