BWF World Championships 2023 | HS Prannoy enters second round with shaky win

08/21/2023

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Star Indian shuttler HS Prannoy defeated Kalle Koljonen of Finland in straight games on Monday to go to the men's singles second round of the World Championships. The ninth-ranked Indian defeated left-handed Koljonen 24-22, 21-10, bringing his head-to-head record against the Finn to 3-0.

The first game was close, as Koljonen quickly took the lead with an 8-4 score. However, Prannoy scored seven points in a row to take an 11-8 advantage into halftime. After play resumed, though, an exciting struggle started, and Koljonen ultimately won three game points after shoving one of his rival's forehands away.

However, a composed Prannoy preserved all three game points before hitting wide to give his adversary the edge once more. When it was 22-21 in favour of the Finnish player, he sprayed into the net after saving another game point with a backhand block at the net. Koljonen lost a net battle and missed long, giving the Indian the advantage, which he took advantage of with a thunderous cross-court smash, but he was unable to capitalise.

Prannoy briefly had a 6-5 advantage in the second game, which began evenly matched. To open up a six-point advantage at halftime with a straight smash, the Indian quickly gained momentum, though. Koljonen struggled to manoeuvre Prannoy's angles and ploys as the Indian continued advancing, and after a Koljonen wide, Prannoy quickly earned 12 match points.

Before the Indian closed the door with a direct smash, Prannoy missed one attempt at the net and Koljonen saved another.