Hongyang shows nerves of steel to pip Prannoy to title

Good fight: China’s Weng Hongyang (right) posing with runner-up H.S. Prannoy of India after the Australian Open men’s singles final match in Sydney. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: Weng Hongyang of China avenged his defeat to H.S. Prannoy in the Malaysian Masters in May by overcoming the Indian in spectacular style to win the Australian Open in Sydney yesterday.

Prannoy, 31, was just two points away from clinching his second Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour title when he led 19-14 in the deciding game only to see Hongyang secure five points on the trot to draw level.