BWF World Championship 2019: Sai Praneeth wins bronze medal

Indian male shuttler Sai Praneeth settles with a bronze medal after going down against World no. 1 Japanese Kento Momota in the semi-final of the BWF World Championship 2019, in Basel on Saturday. The Japanese dominated the show to defeat Praneeth 13-21, 8-21. Despite his exit, Sai managed to become the first Indian male to reach the semi-final of the tournament after 36 years. In 1983, legend Prakash Padukone attained this feat where he also finished with a bronze medal.

The first game ensued a close competition with Sai maintaining a narrow edge of 5-3. Momota quickly regained his composure and came back with his pace to lead 6-7. Sai kept on matching toe-to-toe to and produced a brilliant return from a drop shot to make it 10-10. Momota went on a points spree picking up five in a row to make 10-15. Though Praneeth tried a comeback, but a series of errors cost him points to give the Japanese 12-20 edge. Praneeth picked up a point in the stride but Momota had his tempo going to win 13-21.

Though Sai picked up the first two points in the second game, Momota went on cruising past the Indian attaining a lead of 2-9. At interval, the Japanese had an edge of 3-11. Momota went on amassing the lead to 5-15. An error by Momota took the match to 8-18. But he kept on maintaining his dominance to eventually finish the match.