Ranked 34th in the world rankings, HS Prannoy fought hard but missed beating world no.2 Anders Antonsen in the second round clash of the BWF World Championships. After a drubbing in the first game, Prannoy came back. In the second game, he held two match points but ended up on the losing side.
Prannoy lost 8-21, 21-17, 21-23 to Denmark's Antonsen.
"Played a few bad shots towards the end. I should have kept a little more energy and tried to be on the attacking side. In the last 3-4 points, I felt he was on the attack and I gave him a few easy smashes that probably changed the game.
"I should have taken a few more chances at the net and played patiently,” Prannoy said after a gruelling second-round match that lasted an hour and 30 minutes.
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The 33-year-old pushed Antonsen on the back foot but making unforced errors prevented him from causing a huge upset.
"Losing match points always hurts, especially in big events. One match can change the course of a tournament. Beating somebody in form gives you a lot of confidence, but if you are on the other side it takes your entire effort away and you start doubting yourself again.
"I really didn't want to be in that situation," the 2023 bronze-medallist added.
Struggle with injuries, disease affecting fitness
The Asian Games Bronze-medallist has had his struggles with health in the last few years. A chronic disorder, a back injury and then chikungunya before the Paris Olympics.Prannoy opened up about his struggles and see himself playing for a year or two. He admitted that his fitness is not par with youngsters.
"I've been trying to constantly improve on that front. Game-wise I'm there, I can still play a couple of years more, but fitness-wise I'm not able to keep up with these youngsters.
"The pace is too high and sometimes the body doesn't react as I want it to. It's a tad slower. That's part and parcel of the game — the sport is fast and explosive.
"Probably one more. You want to push for a couple more years, but maximum would be one, and that too if I stretch really hard," the 2022 Thomas Cup winner said.