BWF World Championships: Axelsen’s exit boosts Prannoy’s chances | Badminton News – Times of India
Olympic champion and title favourite, Viktor Axelsen was knocked out of the BWF World Championships, losing to Loh Kean Yew of Singapore 21-14, 9-21, 6-21. The Dane looked completely out of sorts in the last two games.
Axelsen credited his opponent and dismissed the defeat as one bad day. “Pretty much everything fell apart in the second and the third sets. The first game was OK, but then it was something I’d rather forget. Loh stepped up and I stepped down,” Axelsen said after the match.
With top star Kento Momota pulling out before the tournament, it is difficult to pick the winner in men’s singles but Axelsen’s exit will boost HS Prannoy’s chances in the tournament.
Late on Monday, Prannoy stunned eighth seed Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong. Prannoy will face Daren Liew of Malaysia. If Prannoy gets past Liew he will face an easy opponent in the quarterfinals, most probably 11th seed Rasmus Gemke of Denmark.
In the semifinals Prannoy may face Loh Kean Yew or Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand. None of these players are in the same class as Axelsen or Momota.
Prannoy has beaten several world No.1s and champion shuttlers in the past. In fact, Prannoy was the unsung hero of Indian men’s singles success story in 2017. The Kerala shuttler defeated top players in the early rounds and cleared the path for Srikanth and Sai Praneeth.
With a little bit of luck, Prannoy may end up on the podium.
Axelsen credited his opponent and dismissed the defeat as one bad day. “Pretty much everything fell apart in the second and the third sets. The first game was OK, but then it was something I’d rather forget. Loh stepped up and I stepped down,” Axelsen said after the match.
With top star Kento Momota pulling out before the tournament, it is difficult to pick the winner in men’s singles but Axelsen’s exit will boost HS Prannoy’s chances in the tournament.
Late on Monday, Prannoy stunned eighth seed Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong. Prannoy will face Daren Liew of Malaysia. If Prannoy gets past Liew he will face an easy opponent in the quarterfinals, most probably 11th seed Rasmus Gemke of Denmark.
In the semifinals Prannoy may face Loh Kean Yew or Kantaphon Wangcharoen of Thailand. None of these players are in the same class as Axelsen or Momota.
Prannoy has beaten several world No.1s and champion shuttlers in the past. In fact, Prannoy was the unsung hero of Indian men’s singles success story in 2017. The Kerala shuttler defeated top players in the early rounds and cleared the path for Srikanth and Sai Praneeth.
With a little bit of luck, Prannoy may end up on the podium.
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