HS Prannoy's achievements in 2023

He won his maiden BWF World Tour title this year.

HS Prannoy is one of the most prominent and successful badminton players in India, with a remarkable set of achievements in 2023. He made history by becoming the fifth Indian male shuttler to win a medal at the BWF World Championships, where he clinched the bronze in Denmark. Furthermore, he was a key member of the Indian team that won silver in Asian Games 2023 and further became the first player after Syed Modi to win a singles medal at the quadrennial extravaganza.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Prannoy reached his career-best world ranking of number six in August 2023 and since has shown no signs of slowing down. Here are some of his outstanding achievements in 2023.

BWF World Badminton Championships 2023 – Bronze

At the BWF World Championships 2023 in Denmark, HS Prannoy, made history by securing the bronze medal in the men’s singles category and became the fifth Indian men’s singles player to achieve this milestone. Despite a commendable performance, Prannoy faced a tough challenge in the semifinals against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who went onto win the title.

The intense match lasted one hour and 16 minutes at the Royal Arena, concluding with a scoreline of 21-18, 13-21, 14-21 in favor of the Thai opponent. Although Prannoy was eliminated in the semifinals, his historic third-place finish by triumphing over the top-ranked, Viktor Axelsen, in the quarterfinals adds to the legacy of Indian badminton.

Australian Open 2023 – Runners-up

Prannoy had previously triumphed over Weng Hong Yang in the Malaysia Masters final. However, in the Australian Open 2023 men’s singles final, Prannoy fought in a closely contested battle and ultimately succumbed to a narrow defeat 9-21, 23-21, 20-22 in the 90-minute showdown in Sydney.

In the annals of the Australian Open badminton title, the official records only recognize China’s Weng Hong Yang as the champion and overlook the captivating drama, persistent momentum shifts, and the extraordinary physical endurance displayed by two shuttlers during the thrilling 90-minute men’s singles final. Amidst heightened adrenaline and intense emotions, it was the nerves that ultimately dictated the contest.

Weng Hong Yang staged an impressive comeback from a 14-19 deficit in the decider and saved a championship point to secure victory in the tournament.

Asian Games 2023 – Bronze

At the Asian Games 2023, India’s HS Prannoy clinched the bronze medal in the men’s singles event, despite facing defeat in the semi-final against home favourite Li Shifeng. The renowned Indian badminton player showcased resilience and skill in his semi-final clash but was ultimately overcome by China’s Li Shifeng with the final scorecard displaying 21-16, 21-9.

Prannoy’s achievement adds another feather to his cap highlighting his commendable performance at the Asian Games 2023.

Indonesia Open 2023 – Third place

Current world no.8 HS Prannoy faced disappointment in the semi-final stage of the Indonesia Open and finished third after succumbing to a defeat against Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in straight games. Axelsen’s decisive victory with a scoreline of 21-15, 21-15 marked Prannoy’s third semi-final appearance at the Indonesia Open.

Prannoy’s earlier dominance was evident in the quarterfinals, where he outclassed third seed Kodai Naraoka in straight games with a commanding 21-18, 21-16 victory in just 55 minutes. In the round of 16, Prannoy swiftly secured a win in 43 minutes against Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong, with a score of 21-18, 21-16. His journey in the tournament included a opening round win against Kenta Nishimoto of Japan, where he triumphed with a scoreline of 21-16, 21-14 to advance to the last-16 stage.

Malaysia Masters 2023 – Gold

HS Prannoy secured his maiden BWF World Tour title by defeating Weng Hong Yang from the People’s Republic of China in the final of the Malaysia Masters 2023. The Indian displayed exceptional skills, overcoming the Chinese 21-19, 13-21, 21-18. This victory marked a significant milestone for the 30-year-old, as it was his first men’s singles title in over six years since the US Open in 2017, which was then part of the BWF Grand Prix.

Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 – Bronze

Part of the team at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023, India settled for a bronze medal after a hard-fought semi-final against China at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in UAE. In the opening match, Prannoy faced a tough challenge from world No. 125 Lei Lan Xi, ultimately losing 21-13, 21-16.

Despite Prannoy’s setback, India rallied as Chirag Shetty and Dhruv Kapila secured a crucial doubles win, followed by a remarkable performance from Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly in women’s doubles, bringing the tie level at 2-2. In the decider, India’s mixed doubles pair, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto, fell short short as India lost the tie 2-3.

This bronze medal marked India’s first podium finish at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships, showcasing the team’s resilience and skill throughout the tournament.

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