US Open GPG Highlights, badminton scores and results: HS Prannoy beats P Kashyap to claim maiden title

India in 2017 so far: 9 singles titles

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 Grand Prix Gold

🏅🏅🏅 Superseries

🏆 Superseries Premierhttps://t.co/KaGBLyJBXK@BAI_Media pic.twitter.com/dwsw4RM3RP

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 23, 2017

And .@PRANNOYHSPRI takes men's singles! Congrats on an incredible run to the championship #USOpenBadminton pic.twitter.com/3J3qlCE9ca

— USA Badminton (@USABadminton) July 23, 2017

3rd Grand Prix Gold title for HS Prannoy. Beats fellow Indian, Parupalli Kashyap 21-15, 20-22, 21-12 in #USAGPG Final. Congrats, champ! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aucLVQQuNK

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

HS Prannoy beats Parupalli Kashyap: 21-15, 22-20, 21-12!

A very calm and composed show by Prannoy there to seal his third Grand Prix Gold and maiden US Open title against an intelligent player like Kashyap. The 25-year-old scripted a brilliant comeback in the first game and despite losing the second narrowly, he managed to wrap up things quickly in the decider. Court coverage and a variation of strokes made the difference at the end. 

25-year-old @PRANNOYHSPRI plays with flair and looks in total control against Kashyap. What an year he's having! #USAGPG

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

19-10! Prannoy shows why he is one of the smart shuttlers out there. His judgement has been pretty accurate, especially after a disappointing start of the first game. He is just two points away from his maiden US Open title!

17-10! Prannoy is just toying around with Kashyap who looks dejected after committing a series of net errors for the third time in this match.

Prannoy extends his lead. He's playing some incredible shots in California. Leading 15-8 now! 6 points away. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

13-8! With that unplayable forehand smash, Prannoy inches closer to his maiden US Open GPG title. Kashyap is trying too much to make a comeback.

Few phenomenal shots by Prannoy gives him the edge over Kashyap at the final mid-game interval. Leads 11-7.#USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

9-5! Prannoy has maintained his four-point lead in the third game against Kashyap. Great footwork there. 

6-9! Such skill there from Kashyap as he pulls one back. What a backhand shot!

Kashyap and Prannoy are matching each other shot by shot. Kashyap makes a few errors. Prannoy cashes in. Leads 7-3.#USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

4-1! Oh well, Prannoy holds a three-point lead early on the decider! He is just unbeatable at the net. Kashyap will have to hit those clinical drives from the forecort to stretch Prannoy.

Parupalli Kashyap makes it 1-1, wins second game 22-20

A much better performance from the former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kashyap who cleverly executed a mix of backhand and wrist strokes from the basepoint. Prannoy did not give up but was left confused at times.

And we are headed to a deciding third game between both @BAI_Media pic.twitter.com/M6Vd7nUfF7

— USA Badminton (@USABadminton) July 23, 2017

Both the shuttlers are doing everything they can to win this one. Prannoy needs two points to seal the match, while Kashyap needs the same number of points to send the match into the deciding game! 

Prannoy saves 2 game points to make it 20-20 against Kashyap. Shouts in jubilation! #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

18-18! 

Great rally and a great jump smash by Prannoy to level the scores as we approach the end of the second game.

This is a fabulous match. Prannoy draws level to make it 18-18 against Kashyap in the second game. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

16-16! The second game is going down the wire. Who will win it? @PRANNOYHSPRI or @parupallik? https://t.co/KaGBLyJBXK #USAGPG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 23, 2017

WHAT A RALLY! 

This time, Prannoy plays a smart cross court drop to take a point. Kashyap, on the other hand, tries to play long rallies to put Prannoy under pressure. 

Kashyap still leads by a point 15-14

14-12! 

Net error haunts Kashyap as he loses two points on the trot. Make it 15-12, Kashyap executes a perfect jump smash! Prannoy is on his knees.

Surprisingly, the second game has witnessed more attacking drives from Kashyap than Prannoy. Variation!

Contrary to the first game, Kashyap extends the lead after the break. 14-10 against Prannoy. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

11-8! 

For the second time in this match, Kashyap has taken a healthy lead at the mid-game interval. However, the question here is can he maintain the lead or will Prannoy claw back?

Long rallies are a routine in the second game. The two Indian shuttlers are battling it out. Kashyap 9-7 Prannoy. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

5-5! There we are. Looks like a proper attack vs defence in the second game. Somehow, Prannoy has kept his calm to draw level yet again in this match.

Intense rally early on in the second game. Nothing to separate these two. Kashyap 4 - 3 Prannoy. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

4-2! A powerful backhand forces Prannoy to lift the shuttle from the basepoint. But Kashyap capitalises with a cheeky wrist shot.

3-1! Great technique and power by Kashyap as he starts the second game just like he did in the first. Can he maintain the lead throughout?

HS Prannoy wins first game: 21-15

Prannoy does what he does best. From being 4-8 down, he picked his spot perfectly and never looked back since then. Excellent court coverage after the mid-game interval by Prannoy. Meanwhile, after taking a healthy lead, Kashyap succumbed to Prannoy’s aggressive strokes from the forecourt. 

The second game gets underway!

19-14! Incredible forehand strokes by Prannoy there. He opens up a five-point lead as we approach the end of the first game. Kashyap is finding it difficult against a very offensive Prannoy.

Prannoy wins an enthralling rally and follows it up with a cross court smash. 2 points away from taking the 1st game. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

17-15! Kashyap gifts two points via net errors as Prannoy hits a barrage of net shots to take control.

15-15! It is neck and neck in the men's singles final between @PRANNOYHSPRI and @parupallik

LIVE: https://t.co/KaGBLys16c #USAGPG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 23, 2017

15-13! Prannoy has taken things under his control now. Great judgement by the 24-year-old as he targets Kashyap’s left tramline for the fourth time. Looks like Prannoy has a plan here.

13-12! 

Prannoy strikes out of nowhere! From being down at 4-8, the Kerala-born shuttler pips Kashyap to take a slender lead.

12-11! Kashyap holds a narrow one-point lead in the first game of the USA GPG final against Prannoy.

10-7! Nice footwork there by Kashyap as he pushes Prannoy towards the baseline yet again.

.@parupallik leads 11-7 at the mid-game interval of the first game against @PRANNOYHSPRI

LIVE: https://t.co/KaGBLyJBXK #USAGPG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 23, 2017

8-4! Kashyap pulls one back as he takes the advantage of Prannoy’s position near the tramline. 

5-8! Prannoy won’t let his good friend run away with the lead as he hits one straight down the court.

4-7! Prannoy wins three points on the trot as he is finally looking comfortable at the forecourt. That’s what he is all about. Great control

Kashyap has taken the early lead. Ahead 6-1 against Prannoy. Crucial lead. #USAGPG Final

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

A couple of errors from Prannoy have allowed Kashyap to take a 4-1 lead. Prannoy has played three consecutive defensive strokes. He is looking different tonight.

Love-all, play!

Kashyap takes two points with ease as both shuttlers look to play aggressively early on in the first game.

Hey BAI, we are! 

Prannoy and Kashyap have taken center stage. Who is watching the #USAGPG final?

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

The women’s singles are over. 

It’s time for the BIG clash:

HS Prannoy vs Parupalli Kashyap

The #USAGPG Women's Doubles finals are underway. @PRANNOYHSPRI and @parupallik will be in action next.

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 23, 2017

HS Prannoy vs Parupalli Kashyap: Head-to-head

Looking at their head-to-head meetings, it is hard to separate the Indian duo, with Kashyap winning at the then India Grand Prix in 2010 and Prannoy at the 2014 German Open respectively.

HS Prannoy vs Parpalli Kashyap: Form

Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kashyap will contest in his first final in about 21 months. The 30-year-old reached the final in October 2015, but unfortunately limped off the court with a calf injury. Since then, he has been struggling to maintain his form at tournaments.

Meanwhile, having battled a series of injuries, Prannoy will play his first final since clinching the 2016 Swiss Open. A string of excellent performances by Prannoy, which saw him making the semi-finals of the Indonesia Open by beating Malaysian ace Lee Chong Wei, and China’s Chen Long remains the Kerala-born shuttler’s best display of the year.

HS Prannoy vs Parupalli Kashyap

India have successfully maintained their brilliant run in men’s singles in the tournament and at the end of the summit clash, an Indian shuttler will claim the US Open crown for the very first time.

It won’t be the first time that two Indian shuttlers will square off for the title this season. Earlier at the Singapore Open Superseries, Kidambi Srikanth faced B Sai Praneeth in the final with the latter emerging victorious. On the other hand, this is the first time that two Indians have reached the men’s singles final at the US Open.

Tonight's men's singles final between @PRANNOYHSPRI & @parupallik will assure maiden #USAGPG title for 🇮🇳@BAI_Mediahttps://t.co/5Cg8dEnXri

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 23, 2017

Hello and welcome to Firstpost coverage of the men’s singles final between HS Prannoy and Parupalli Kashyap at the US Open Grand Prix Gold. Although a title in India’s favour is assured but we would love to see who comes out victorious in the all-Indian battle tonight. Get ready for a great game of badminton!