BWF World Championships 2023: HS Prannoy is India’s biggest medal hope in the World Championships this year. The 31-year old enters the tournament this year as India’s No.1 Men’s Singles player. He is the ninth seed in the tournament but has a challenging road ahead as he is placed in a tough draw.
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Prannoy has been on the ascendancy in the BWF Rankings since last year. He was instrumental in India’s Thomas Cup winning campaign last year. The shuttler from Kerala also finished as runner-up at the Swiss Open. He was also consistent in other tournaments as well that helped him become the only Indian to enter the BWF World Tour Finals last year, where he lost in the group stages.
He improved further this year and finally won his maiden BWF World Tour title by winning the Malaysian Masters. His performances helped him achieve a career-best World No.7 ranking in May. Currently ranked World No.9, he enters the World Championships after finishing as runner-up at the Australian Open.
Having bowed out from the quarterfinal in the World Championship last year, Prannoy is looking to better his show. However he has a challenging road ahead in the World event.
Prannoy placed in tough draw
The ninth seed finds himself in the first quarter of the draws. He is all set to begin his campaign by facing a lowly-ranked Finland’s Kalle Koljonen in the first round. In the second round, he might face either Australia’s Nathan Tang or Indonesia’s Chico Dwi Wardoyo.
Potential third round clash against former World Champion Loh Kean Yew
- It is from the third round that the going might get tougher for Prannoy.
- He is likely to set up clash against seventh seed Loh Kean Yew.
- Loh Kean Yew won the World title way back in 2021.
- Prannoy enjoys a 3-1 lead in the head-to-head record against the Singaporean.
- But he is a higher-ranked opponent than Prannoy and it will be a big test for the Indian.
Quarterfinal clash against World No.1 Viktor Axelsen on the cards
- If Prannoy advances to the quarterfinal, he is likely to face the World No.1 Viktor Axelsen.
- However if he meets Axelsen in the last-eight stage, he will have a big task ahead.
- The Dane is the defending champion and is bidding for his third World Championship title.
- Prannoy met Axelsen twice this year and suffered defeat in both the contest.
- The Indian would hope to end his losing streak against the Dane.
Third seed Kumlavut Vitidsarn, sixth seed Li Shi Feng, 11th seed Lakshya Sen or 13th seed Lu Guangzhu might be his likely opponents in the semifinal.
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