PETALING JAYA: India’s H. S. Prannoy has once again proved he still has more left in the tank.
At 31, there have been doubts on whether Prannoy has passed the peak of his career, but the 2023 Malaysian Masters champion isn’t done yet.
In his second match at the Asia Team Championships, Prannoy displayed a performance of sheer willpower, as he clawed his way back to beat China’s Weng Hongyang 6-21, 21-18, 21-19 at the Setia Alam Convention Centre.
The world No. 7 said the hard-earned victory has fueled him for upcoming tournaments such as the French Open and All-England next month.
“Today’s match gives me the confidence that I’m on the right track, I know things are going to get better from here,” said Prannoy.
“There are many events throughout the year and there will be matches that you’re not going to be at 100 per cent, when you don’t feel like putting in the effort.
“You just have to accept that and move forward by finding the positives in each day.
“Every player’s target at the next few prestigious tournaments is to make it to the semi-finals and finals as we are getting into the final leg of the Olympic qualifiers,” he said.
Prannoy admitted that the match yesterday pushed him to his limits, forcing him to play angrily.
“I was really pissed off with the way the match started. My first match wasn’t great either, I was physically struggling,” he said.
“But I think it’s really important for me to fight it out in these kind of games, especially when the players are ranked in the top 20.”
Prannoy’s start at the meet wasn’t ideal, as he lost the opening match against Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long 21-18, 21-14. Fortunately, the Indian men’s team picked up the slack and won the meet 4-1.
“No game is easy, people are ready to pounce on you if you give them the chance.
“I was annoyed in the first game so I had to play in an angry fashion in the second to make sure things went back to my style.
“Some days you have to really fight hard to get those victories, and this match was one of those days
“I don’t think there is a fatigue factor, I just think the intent to play hard was missing in the first game.
“There was a lot of doubt within myself, but I was just telling myself to keep going until I was tired and couldn’t go on. That’s when the pace picked up and I got my strokes right.
“A lot of things depend on what type of mentality you go into the match with,” he said.
India’s men’s squad made it through to the knockout stages despite their 3-2 loss to China, ending their group stage in second spot in Group A ahead of Hong Kong.
RESULTS
Men’s team
Group A: China bt India 3-2
Group B: Kazakhstan bt Brunei 5-0
Group D: South Korea bt Indonesia 3-2, United Arab Emirates bt Saudi Arabia 5-0 Women’s team
Group X: Indonesia bt Hong Kong 5-0
Group Y: Thailand bt Malaysia 4-1 (Supanida Katethong bt Goh Jin Wei 21-13, 26-24; Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai bt Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah 20-22, 21-15, 21-19; Busanan Ongbamrungphan bt K. Letshanaa 21-17, 21-18; Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard bt Teoh Mei Xing-Tan Zhing Yi 21-17, 21-18; Pornpicha Choeikeewong lost to Wong Ling Ching 19-21, 21-15, 16-21)
Group Z: Japan bt Taiwan 5-0
2024-02-15 23:09:37
#Badminton #toy #strongheaded #Prannoy
