Top seed K Srikanth made a rollicking start to the new season as he clinched the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold with a convincing win over China's Huang Yuxiang in the men's singles final.
World No. 9 Srikanth, who had reached the summit clash in the last edition as well, prevailed over 73rd ranked Huang 21-13, 14-21, 21-14 to lay his hands on the crown and take home a cheque of $9000.
It was his fifth title having won the 2013 Thailand Grand Prix Gold, 2014 China Super Series and Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold and India Super Series last year.
However, Indian men's doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar wasted two match points to go down 14-21, 24-22, 21-8 against Malaysia’s V Shem Goh and Wee Kiong Tan in their first-ever Grand Prix Gold summit clash that lasted a little over an hour.
Srikanth led 11-8 at the break and continued his march after the interval, cruising to the game point when the Chinese pushed to the back of the court, failed to recover enough ground to return a net dribble. Srikanth then sealed the game with a smash.
In the second game, Srikanth blew a 11-7 lead to allow Huang make a roaring comeback.
In the decider, Huang continued his surge and opened up a 7-4 lead early on. The Indian then dug deeper in his reservoir of strokes and produced some scintillating smashes to draw parity at 8-8. The duo moved together till 12-12 before the Indian took a slender 15-13 lead.
Srikanth finally moved into the match point with a towering smash and then sealed it with another power-packed smash.
Propelled by a loud stadium, Pranaav and Akshay took the court and quickly opened up a 4-1 lead. The duo rode on a series of errors from the Malaysian combo to enter the break with a 11-5 lead.
Akshay and Pranaav continued their good run as they led 17-12. They moved into the game point and seized the opportunity with a sizzling smash.
The second game begun on an even-keel as both parties moved neck-and-neck right from the start to 5-5 before the Malaysian managed to go 11-8 up. However, the Indian quickly erased the deficit and grabbed a 14-11 lead when the Malaysian faltered at the net.
At a nervous 20-20 stage, the Indians won a controversial point even as the Malaysian complained. With the advantage shifting too quickly, it was Goh and Tan who grabbed the final two points — one with a return that hit Akshay and another when the Indians hit wide.
After losing the second game, the Indians struggled as their wayward shots helped Malaysians to open up a 11-5 lead before capitulating without a fight.