Praneeth loses to World No 1 Kento Momota in SFs of Japan Open

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 23 B Sai Praneeth, India, lost to top seed and World No 1 Kento Momota, Japan, in the semi-finals of Daihatsu Yonex Japan Open, an HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament, at Tokyo, Japan, on July 27, 2019.

Momota defeated Praneeth in straight games 21-18, 21-12 in 45 minutes in the semi-finals at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, to reach the final ending the latter’s giant killing run. Momota, who had lost in the second round of Indonesia Open last week, won 42 rallies in the match to 30 by Praneeth. He also won 7 consecutive points in the match to 5 by the India, the winner of Singapore Open in 2017. Momota now leads Praneeth 3-2 Head to Head.

Praneeth had defeated World No 11 Kenta Nishimoto, Japan, World No 17 Kanta Tsuneyama, Japan, and World No 18 Tommy Sugiarto, Indonesia, to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.