In a gripping showdown at the Australian Open 2023, Chinese badminton player Weng Hongyang emerged victorious over Indian seed HS Prannoy in the men’s singles final. The 31-year-old Prannoy put up a fierce fight, but ultimately succumbed to Weng’s prowess.
The much-anticipated final took place on Sunday, August 6th, with hopes riding on HS Prannoy to secure the men’s singles title. However, Weng seized control of the first game, dominating with a score of 21-9.
Undeterred, Prannoy showcased his resilience in the second game, securing a nail-biting victory with a score of 23-21. Impressively, this marked the eighth instance this year that Prannoy managed to recover from an initial game loss.
The third game was an intense battle, as Prannoy fought valiantly but narrowly fell short with a score of 20-22. With this victory, Weng Hongyang secured the Australian Open title.
In the lead-up to the final, Prannoy exhibited remarkable prowess. He conquered opponents in earlier rounds, defeating Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu (21-18; 16-21; 21-15), Taiwanese contender Chi Y-j (19-21; 21-19; 21-13), and Indonesian player Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (21-16; 17-21; 14-21) in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinal, Prannoy faced off against his compatriot, the 21-year-old rising star Priyanshu Rajawat. Rajawat had secured his place in the semis by defeating Srikanth Kidambi in the quarterfinals (21-13; 21-8). However, Prannoy managed to prevail over Rajawat in a closely contested match, with a score of 21-18; 21-12, earning him a spot in the final.
Despite Prannoy’s valiant efforts, it was Weng Hongyang who emerged triumphant in the end, capturing the Australian Open title with his remarkable display of skill and determination.
