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Prannoy defeated two-time defending champion Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, who is currently ranked No.1 in the world, in a thrilling 68-minute quarterfinal match.
The match was a rollercoaster ride as Prannoy fought back from a game down to eventually clinch victory in three tight games. The final scoreline read 13-21, 21-15, 21-16 in favour of Prannoy.
Viktor Axelsen reacts during the match against HS Prannoy. (AFP Photo)
The 31-year-old from Kerala, who this year won the Malaysia Masters Super 500 and advanced to the finals of the Australian Open Super 500, extended India’s incredible World Championships run by securing the nation’s 14th medal in the competition.
PV Sindhu, a two-time medalist at the Olympics, won five of them, including a gold in 2019, and Saina Nehwal took home two (silver and bronze). The other medalists in singles are Kidambi Srikanth (silver), Lakshya Sen (bronze), B Sai Praneeth (bronze), and Prakash Padukone (bronze).
In the last edition, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty took home bronze, while the women’s doubles team of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa earned bronze in 2011.
Prannoy, currently ranked ninth in the world, will now proceed to the semi-finals where he will face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Vitidsarn, who defeated TW Wang of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinal, will undoubtedly provide a tough challenge for Prannoy.
Prannoy’s triumph over Axelsen will undoubtedly boost his confidence and set the stage for an intense and exciting semi-final clash.
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