BWF World Championships 2023: Prannoy stuns Axelsen, reaches maiden semi-final
What's the story
Indian star shuttler HS Prannoy has beaten the world number one Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals of the 2023 BWF World Championships in Copenhagen on Friday.
The 31-year-old shuttler came from behind to win the match 13-21, 21-15, 21-6.
Notably, this is his best performance at the World Championships and also his first win this year over the reigning champion.
Here's more.
BWF Head-to-head
BWF head-to-head: Axelsen 7-3 Prannoy
Axelsen holds the upper hand over Prannoy in the BWF events. The Danish shuttler has won seven out of the ten encounters against the Indian. The 31-year-old has bagged three victories.
Prannoy has lost the previous two matches this year against the Olympic champion but this time he registered his first win of 2023 against Axelsen.
Prannoy now trails him 7-3 in the head-to-head.
2023
Prannoy has had a decent year
The world number nine has done decently in 2023 as he bagged his first BWF World title in May. He also reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Badminton Asia Championships.
Prannoy continued his run by reaching the semi-finals in Indonesia followed by quarter-finals outings in Chinese Taipei and Japan.
He finished runners-up in the Australia Open.
Prannoy has a win-loss record of 30-14 (2023).
Quarter-finals
First semi-final in the BWF World Championships
Before this win, Prannoy's best achievement in the World Championships was reaching the quarter-finals. He reached the last eight twice in 2021 and 2022.
This was his third consecutive World Championships quarter-finals. However this time, he has reached the semi-finals for the first time in this competition.
Notably, Prannoy has now assured the bronze medal which will be his first at this stage.
Journey
A look at his journey to the semi-finals
Prannoy started his campaign with a dominant 24-22, 21-10 win over Kalle Koljonen.
He then defeated defeated Chico Wardoyo 21-9, 21-14 in the second round.
In the third round, he got the better of Loh Kean Yew 18-21, 21-15, 21-19 in a thrilling encounter.
Prannoy defeated world number one Axelsen in the quarter-finals at his den (13-21, 21-15, 21-16) to reach the semis.
Information
Prannoy's next opponent
The 31-year-old will face Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals of the competition. Vitidsarn defeated Chinese Taipei's Wang Tzu-wei (18-21, 21-15, 21-13) in the quarter-finals. He won the silver medal last year at the BWF World Championships. Prannoy has a 0-1 head-to-head record against Vitidsarn.