Surat (Gujarat) [India], October 2 (ANI): Badminton star HS Prannoy confirmed he means enterprise as he marked his return to courtroom after a month’s break with a 21-11, 21-9 demolition of Orijit Chaliha to star in Kerala’s 3-1 victory over Assam within the National Games Mixed Team quarterfinals right here on Saturday.
“It is a nice feeling to be back on the court. I last played in the first week of September in Japan Open. It was a long break for me after some good victories this year. I was not moving as well as I wanted to, but I have got back to training. And, playing a match after a long time is always tough, ” Prannoy mentioned as he took stock of his 26-minute victory.
Prannoy, who married his long-time girlfriend Swetha Thomas just lately, mentioned the match in opposition to Orijit Chaliha was not powerful. “But going deeper into the tournament, I will be getting tougher matches,” mentioned the India star who has changed Tokyo Olympic Games champion Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) on the prime of the newest males’s singles BWF World Tour 2022 Ranking.
He is main with 58,090 factors, having participated in 13 tournaments on the BWF World Tour this 12 months.
Prannoy has been in good kind since serving to India win their maiden Thomas Cup title in May this 12 months. His greatest got here when he made it to the ultimate of the Swiss Open, a BWF Super 300 occasion. He additionally had two semifinal appearances within the Malaysia Masters and Indonesia Open.”My focus would be the World Tour Finals. There are quite a few tournaments before that. I hope to produce winning results in those. I have to be consistent. Of course, I have to be in top eight to make the grade. I would like to get into a good rhythm before the World Tour Finals. I’m happy with my results over the last year and I need to be consistent, ” he mentioned.
Although he has the highest spot within the World Tour Ranking, his World rating is 18th in males’s singles. “I would like to get into the top 10 and preferably top five as I would get a better draw. I also need to work on my game so that I should go beyond the semifinals. That is my priority now,” he mentioned.
In the day’s different matches, Maharashtra defeated Delhi 3-1 whereas Gujarat bought the higher of Uttarakhand 3-2 to succeed in the semi-finals.
Maharashtra will now face prime seeds Telangana whereas the hosts will tackle Kerala for a spot within the gold medal match.
For Gujarat, it was a purpose for celebrations as they’re assured of a first-ever badminton medal within the National Games. “We stay up for the semifinal match in opposition to Kerala. But profitable the primary ever medal is an enormous achievement for our staff,” mentioned Monesh Mashruwala, supervisor of the Gujarat staff. (ANI)