Shuttler Prannoy loses Vietnam Open final

Despite playing well, Indian shuttler H.S. Prannoy had to settle Sunday for the runner-up spot in the $50,000 Vietnam Open Grand Prix going down in the men's singles final to Indonesian top seed Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka.

Rumbaka clinched the title beating fifth seeded Prannoy 18-21, 21-15, 21-18 in an hour and three minutes at the Tan Binh Sports Centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

The 22-year-old Kerala shuttler came home richer by $1,900.

After the first two games were shared between the two, Rumbaka took a massive 11-3 lead in the decider. The Indian, World No.50, tried fighting back but the Indonesian had enough leeway to reach match-point (20-15).

Prannoy saved three of the match points but the World No.25 took advantage of his lead to seal the summit clash in his favour.

"I was not steady enough in my defence and he took advantage of that. In the third game I was down 3-11 but played really well to eventually reach 18 points. This final appearance will help me rise in the rankings," Prannoy, whose best ranking is No.34, told IANS from Ho Chi Minh City.