HS Prannoy Bows Out Of BWF World Championships After Gruelling Loss To World No.2 Antonsen

Last Updated:August 28, 2025, 12:39 IST

HS Prannoy narrowly lost to Anders Antonsen in a 90-minute BWF World Championships thriller, missing two match points.

HS Prannoy in action (X)

Indian shuttler HS Prannoy came agonisingly close to a statement win before bowing out of the BWF World Championships in a gruelling second-round defeat to world No. 2 Anders Antonsen of Denmark.

The 2023 world bronze-medallist battled for nearly 90 minutes but lost 8–21, 21–17, 21–23, squandering two match points on Wednesday night.

After a flat opening game, the world No. 34 reset with a composed second, lifting the tempo, tightening his lift-defence, and forcing longer rallies to level the match. In the decider—played under badminton’s best-of-three, race-to-21 format (win by two)—Prannoy twice stood a point from victory but Antonsen clawed back to 23–21.

“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.

“Losing Match Points Always Hurts"

The narrow miss stung for a player who has built a reputation for beating top seeds at majors.

“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," he added.

A key pillar of India’s 2022 Thomas Cup triumph and a world and Asian Games bronze-medallist, Prannoy has navigated a difficult injury-illness run, including a chronic stomach disorder, a nagging back issue, and chikungunya ahead of the Paris Olympics. The 33-year-old took a short break after the Games.

“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."

Looking ahead, Prannoy hinted he may target one final Worlds campaign before making tougher career calls: “Probably one more. You want to push for a couple more years," he said, leaving the door open for another tilt at the sport’s biggest stage.

(with PTI inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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First Published:

August 28, 2025, 12:39 IST

News sports HS Prannoy Bows Out Of BWF World Championships After Gruelling Loss To World No.2 Antonsen

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