HS Prannoy loses to Lu Guang Zu in BWF World Tour Finals, out of semifinal race
India's HS Prannoy went down fighting in three games to China's Lu Guang Zu in his second Group A match to bow out of the semifinal race at the BWF World Tour Finals here on Thursday. The 30-year-old from Kerala, who had lost to the same opponent in his only meeting at the French Open this year, put up a brave effort but couldn't go the distance, losing 21-23 21-17 19-21 in a gruelling 84-minute contest.
It was his second loss in Group A following the opening match defeat to Japan's Kodai Naraoka. The world no. 12 Indian will face world number one and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in his final Group A match on Friday.
Axelsen topped the group after beating Naraoka 21-5 21-15 in a lop-sided contest. The Dane had also defeated Lu in straight games on Wednesday. With the top two players in the group making it to the knockout stage, it will be either Naraoka or Lu joining Axelsen in the semifinals.
The match started on an equal footing with both the players trading blows but a few errors from Prannoy allowed Lu to establish a slender 6-4 lead.
The duo looked to attack but it was the Chinese who showed better control as he entered the mid-game interval with a small two-point advantage.
After resumption, Prannoy looked to dominate the rallies and brought the game on level terms at 14-14 before gaining a two-point lead at 18-16 with a delightful smash.
Lu brushed one across the net to narrow it down to 18-19 and then clawed back at 19-19 when the Indian went wide.
Lu gained one game point but Prannoy saved it before conceding another one. The Indian saved a second game point with a quick backhand reflex, only to send another one out. The Chinese sealed the game this time with a precise return on the backline.
There was little to separate the two in the second game as well, as Prannoy caught up with his rival at 6-6 but Lu managed to grab a one-point cushion at the break after the Indian went long again.
The momentum shifted after the break as Prannoy unleashed a straight smash on his rival's forehand and then punished Lu for a short lift to move to 14-12. Another precise smash and a razor sharp return on his rival's backhand took the Indian to 18-13.
Prannoy grabbed four game points after pouncing on a weak return and roared back into the contest after another net duel.
The Indian dictated the pace in the rallies in the decider and grabbed a 6-3 lead after a lucky net chord. However, errors again crept up in his game as Prannoy rushed on to a couple of shots and allowed Lu to turn the tables at 7-6.
The Chinese then used his speed and quick reflexes to enter the final midgame interval with a three-point lead.
Lu maintained the lead till 15-12 when Prannoy scripted a mini recovery to claw back at 16-16. With the match entering its final stretch, both the shuttlers were celebrating each point with a fist pump and roar as they moved to 19-19.
After an excruciating rally, Prannoy sent one long to hand his rival the match point and Lu sealed it when the Indian went wide.
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