In an exhilarating display of badminton prowess at the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024, India’s HS Prannoy and the men’s doubles duo Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy triumphed, securing berths in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, defending champion Kunlavut and two-time World Champion Yamaguchi faced unexpected exits.
HS Prannoy showcased resilience, overcoming a one-game deficit against compatriot Priyanshu Rajawat to emerge victorious with a scoreline of 20-22, 21-14, 21-14. Chirag-Satwik exhibited dominance, comfortably dispatching Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han of Chinese Taipei with a convincing 21-14, 21-15 win.
In a thrilling showdown between Indians, Priyanshu held an initial lead but succumbed to Prannoy’s strategic play. The 31-year-old staged a remarkable comeback, claiming the second game with seven consecutive points and securing the decider, marking his third consecutive head-to-head victory against Priyanshu.
Reflecting on his win, HS Prannoy remarked on the strategic approach, saying, “I knew I had to stretch the game long today to get this win.”
Chirag Shetty expressed confidence after their win, stating, “All the tactics that we had planned for the match kind of worked for us. We are set for the next match and hopefully, we will go all guns blazing and play our best.”
In a surprising turn of events, Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu upset defending men’s singles champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn. The morning session witnessed former world champion Akane Yamaguchi and all England champion Li Shi Feng facing defeats.
While Prannoy’s victory is commendable, the inconsistency in top players’ performances raises questions about the predictability of badminton tournaments.
