Copenhagen [Denmark]: Indian shuttler HS Prannoy stormed into the semi-final of the ongoing Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships after defeating World No 2 Viktor Axelsen at Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
With this win, World No 7 Prannoy assured a bronze medal for India by beating the home favourite Axelsen in three games 21-13, 15-21, 16-21.
Prannoy has earned the 14th medal for India in the BWF World Championships.
Prannoy secures a historic medal and HOW! ??
Beats home-favourite, Tokyo Olympic ? medalist Viktor Axelsen to secure ??’s 1️⃣4️⃣th medal at #BWFWorldChampionships ?
Proud of you champ!
?: @badmintonphoto#Copenhagen2023#IndiaontheRise#BadmintonTwitter#Badminton pic.twitter.com/JK3dbz7aI9
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 25, 2023
Prannoy on Thursday cruised into the quarterfinals in a 69-minute marathon encounter in the round of 16 against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, the world No 7 and champion for 2021, 21-18, 15-21, 21-19.
The Indian men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty crashed out in the quarterfinals on Friday.
World No 2 pair Satwiksairaj-Chirag lost in straight games 21-18, 21-19 against World No 11 Danish opponents Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
Prannoy is the only challenge left for India in the tournament.
