Thailand Open: Sai Praneeth stuns 4th seed Rumbaka, Pranoy upsets Jayaram

File Photo: India’s HS Prannoy.

India’s HS Pranoy created a flutter when he upset fifth seed and compatriot Ajay Jayaram in a brilliant come-from-behind victory – 14-21, 21-16, 21-13 – to storm into the third round of the Thailand Open being played in Bangkok.

The 65^th ranked shuttler was slow off the blocks and lost the opening game tamely at 14-21. However, he pulled up his socks to level things, pocketing the second game at 21-16.

Pranoy exuded more confidence in the decider and left Jayaram rattled, winning eight consecutive points to win it at 21-13. He reached the semi-finals of the Polish Open earlier this year. He now takes on another Indian, Anand Pawar, in the third round.

Pawar – seeded tenth in the tournament – got the better of Thailand’s Poodchalat Pisit, when his opponent retired hurt, with the Indian winning the opening game at 21-14.

There was more joy in the Indian camp as B Sai Praneeth stunned fourth seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia in three games, 21-12, 18-21, 21-18.

Praneeth took the opening game convincingly at 21-12 before he challenged in the second which he lost 18-21.

The 56^th ranked played the tight points better to close out the game at 21-18. He now takes on another Indonesian Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo in the third round.

Thirteenth seed K Srikanth also progressed to the third round, easing past England’s Toby Penty21-4, 21-14 in a one-sided match. He next plays Korean qualifier Hwang Jong Soo in the third round.

However, eight seed Sourabh Varma crashed out in the second round, losing 12-21, 17-21 to Korea’s Wan Ho Son.

The Indian shuttlers had capped off a fine run in the Yonex Sunrise Indian Open held in New Delhi.

India’s Anand Pawar reached the men’s singles semi-finals where he was outclassed by Japan’s Kenichi Tago. PV Sindhu reached the women’s singles semi-finals where she went down to Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.

As five Indians reached the men’s singles quarterfinals – besides Anand Pawar, Ajay Jayram, RMV Gurusaidutt, HS Pranoy and B Sai Praneeth lived up to the home fan’s expectations.

Two Indians made it to the women’s singles quarterfinals – Arundhati Pantawane made the last-eight grade along with Sindhu.

However, the country’s top men and women singles players – Parupalli Kashyap and Saina Nehwal have had a disappointing 2013 so far.

Both have failed to come up with any eye-catching performances this year, especially Saina who is yet to win her first singles crown of 2013.