BWF World Tour Finals 2022: HS Prannoy loses hard-fought battle vs Kodai Naraoka in match opener

BWF World Tour Finals: HS Prannoy acquired off to a shedding begin as he was overwhelmed in 3 video games by Japan’s Kodai Naraoka. Prannoy will face Viktor Axelsen and Lu Guang Zu in his remaining matches in Bangkok.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 7, 2022 17:30 IST

HS Prannoy misplaced to Kodai Naraoka in his BWF World Tour Finals opener (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: India’s HS Prannoy couldn’t get off to a successful begin on the BWF World Tour Finals because the in-form shuttler misplaced to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka within the opening match in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday. Prannoy put up a valiant battle towards the 21-year-old shuttler however it was not sufficient as he misplaced in 3 video games.

Prannoy has been drawn in Group A within the males’s singles draw of the season-ending match in Bangkok together with reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen and Chnia’s Lu Guang Zu. The World No. 11 Indian shuttler would have hoped for a greater begin towards Naraoka however the opening-round defeat means Prannoy hopes of qualifying to the semi-final took successful.

Two shuttlers from every group will play the semi-finals after the round-robin within the group levels.

Prannoy was on the backfoot initially as Naraoka acquired off to a pacy begin, dictating play within the opening recreation. Prannoy tried to catch-up with the younger Japanese shutter, who lead 11-7 on the mid-game break. However, Naraoka pushed on and raced to take the opening recreation.

Prannoy seemed to regain rhythm as he gave Naroaka a style of his personal medication, successful the second recreation in fast time and forcing a decider.

However, Naraoka held his nerves and fend off the Prannoy risk in a hard-fought deciding recreation.

Prannoy misplaced 12-21, 21-9, 17-21 in a match that prolonged to an hour. It was additionally Prannoy’s second loss to Naraoka on the tour after he was overwhelmed in three video games within the Singapore Open quarter-final.

Prannoy has been in positive type within the ongoing yr and he would need to cap it off with a deep run on the BWF World Tour Finals. Taking a recreation towards Naroaka will come in useful if there’s a tie-breaker for the semi-final qualifying positions.

Prannoy can take confidence from the truth that he defeated Viktor Axelsen of their newest assembly on the tour at Indonesia Masters earlier this yr despite the fact that the Dane has a 5-1 higher total document. Prannoy additionally misplaced his solely assembly to Guang earlier this yr on the Frrench Open.

Published On:

Dec 7, 2022