HS Prannoy became India’s sole representative at the year-end competition.
HS Prannoy, a star shuttler from India, will compete against the best badminton players in his quest for glory in his first BWF World Tour Finals appearance on Wednesday.
Prannoy became India’s sole representative at the year-end tournament, which was moved from Guangzhou, China, due to the rise in COVID-19 infection. Double Olympic medalist P V Sindhu was unable to compete because of an injury.
Prannoy, who has been one of the most consistent Indian players this season, has been placed in Group A with Denmark’s Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, and China’s Lu Guang Zu.
“Starting my BWF World Tour Finals campaign is exciting for me. “I hope I can perform well because this is my first time competing in the championships at the end of the year,” the third-seeded Prannoy, who was recently presented with the Arjuna award, stated.
Even though Prannoy has a good draw and hopes to advance to the semifinals from the group stage, it won’t be easy because he hasn’t done well against his group opponents.
Prannoy’s record against the world’s No. However, the fact that he had defeated the Dane the previous year in the Indonesia Masters would give him confidence.
Prannoy had lost their only match at the Singapore Open in July against the new sensation Kodai Naraoka, who was 21 years old.
In his one and only match at the French Open, the Indian had also lost to Lu Guang Zu of China.
Prannoy, on the other hand, has been a revelation this year and is up for the BWF’s “Most Improved Player of the Year” award. Prannoy is known to up his game in big-ticket events.
In addition to making the semifinals at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 and Malaysia Masters Super 500 events, he was a key contributor to India’s epic victory in the Thomas Cup in May. He also finished in second place at the Swiss Open Super 300.
For the first time in his career, he was able to directly qualify for the season finale thanks to his excellent performance in the world tour events. This week, he would try to take advantage of the opportunity.
Prannoy cannot afford any mistakes against the other two opponents, despite the fact that defending champion Axelsen faces the most challenging obstacle on his way.
Axelsen has won every game this season, setting a world record with a 39-match winning streak and winning five Super Series titles.
Among others in the field, Chou Tien Chen, Jonatan Christie, Anthony Ginting, and Loh Kean Yew are fit for going all the way in the occasion.
However, Prannoy, who his friends affectionately refer to as “the beast,” may be the underdog due to his propensity for upheaval.
The 12th-ranked player in the world hasn’t won a title in more than five years, so he wants to end things on a high note before the new season starts.
Sindhu is India’s only winner of the prestigious title; Sameer Verma reached the quarterfinals in the 2018 competition.
The reigning champion An Se Young, the world champion Akane Yamaguchi, the Olympic champion Chen Yufei, and He Bingjiao, who won the Denmark Open and the French Open, are all strong contenders in the women’s singles event.
Despite their subpar seasons, Ratchanok Intanon and Tai Tzu Ying will remain in contention thanks to their accomplishments in previous seasons.
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