HS Prannoy faced an early elimination at the Thailand Open Super 500 in Bangkok on Wednesday, succumbing to a defeat against qualifier Meiraba Luwang Maisnam. The match saw Maisnam, ranked 84th globally, outclass the fifth-seeded Indian in straight games, securing victory in just 31 minutes. Maisnam’s remarkable court coverage and adept retrieving skills propelled him to the biggest win of his career.
HS Prannoy bows out of Thailand Open
In a closely contested first game, Maisnam seized the advantage and maintained his dominance in the second game, surging to a 4-0 lead. Despite Prannoy’s late attempts to stage a comeback, Maisnam displayed composure to secure the win and advance to the Round of 16.
Prannoy, who enjoyed considerable success last season, has faced struggles this year, with multiple early exits on the World Tour. His challenges have been compounded by a recurring medical issue involving a malfunctioning muscle lining in his oesophagus, leading to discomfort and nausea during matches and training sessions.
With the Paris Olympics looming, Prannoy finds himself at a critical juncture, aiming to overcome both his on-court struggles and health concerns.
Prannoy struggling with health issues
Prannoy, who had a fantastic season last year, has been off-colour this year. Except for a third-place performance at the India Open Super 750, he only had five first-round appearances, including the Thailand Open, and a second-round departure on the World Tour this season.
Prannoy stated last month that an old ailment that had affected him previously had reappeared. Prannoy’s concern is that a faulty muscle lining the oesophagus is forcing food to migrate up, creating nausea. With the Paris Olympics fewer than two months away, Prannoy is at a point of crisis.
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Satwik-Chirag begin Thailand Open campaign with win
Meanwhile, in men’s doubles action, the top-seeded duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty began their campaign with a convincing straight-game victory over Malaysia’s Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong.
In women’s singles, Ashmita Chaliha showed her resilience with a victory over Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo, while Unnati Hooda faced defeat against Lianne Tan of Germany in a closely contested match.
Unfortunately, it was the end of the road for Malvika Bansod, who suffered a defeat at the hands of Han Yue of China. The tournament continues to unfold with intense competition and unexpected outcomes, highlighting the resilience and determination of players striving for success on the badminton court.
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