Copenhagen, Denmark: Indian badminton prodigy HS Prannoy secured bronze medal in the men’s singles category at the prestigious BWF World Badminton Championships 2023, held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 31-year-old ace battled fiercely in his semi-final match, ultimately succumbing to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who is ranked third globally.
In an enthralling clash that lasted for one hour and 16 minutes at the Royal Arena, World No. 9 HS Prannoy displayed remarkable skill and sportsmanship. Despite falling short in the semi-final, his achievement is monumental, as he becomes only the fifth Indian men’s singles player to clinch a medal at the BWF World Badminton Championships. Kidambi Srikanth remains the sole Indian player to reach the men’s singles final, achieving the feat in 2021.
Sharing his thoughts on the achievement, HS Prannoy expressed, “Personally, this bronze medal means a lot to me. I have been on the circuit for almost 12 years, and you want to have these big medals in your hands. I am disappointed it’s not gold, but bronze is a good starting point. A lot of people contributed to this success over the years, and the results showed this week.”
The semi-final encounter was a closely contested affair. In the initial stages, HS Prannoy seized the initiative by winning seven consecutive points, taking him to an 11-5 lead at the mid-game break. His tenacity and composure helped him secure the first game with a score of 21-18.
However, Kunlavut Vitidsarn demonstrated his resilience in the second game, capitalising on Prannoy’s slight drop in intensity. Vitidsarn forced a decider with a scoreline of 13-21.
The final game saw Prannoy trailing early on, with Vitidsarn taking a 12-7 lead. Although the Indian shuttler launched a series of powerful smashes in a spirited attempt to claw his way back into contention, it wasn’t sufficient to deny the Thai shuttler a place in the final.
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