Badminton World C’ships, semi-final, as it happened: Prannoy wins bronze after losing to Vitidsarn

That’s it for The Field’s coverage of the Badminton World Championships

HS Prannoy becomes the fifth Indian man to win a World Championships medal. He wins the bronze after a three-game loss in the semi-final to Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

What an impressive run it was from the 31-year-old Indian. He overcame the tough challenge of 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew 21-18, 15-21, 21-19 in the Round of 16. Then he beat reigning world No 1 and defending champion Viktor Axelsen in front of a partisan Danish crowd 13-21, 21-15, 21-16.

There are many positives to be taken from this event, and it will help Prannoy as he begins preparation for the Asian Games and the Race to Paris Olympic qualification.

Do you feel you had more left in you?

When you’re on the court you feel that you’re done fully, but when you finish off and come out you feel you could have played a little more. Physically I was not able to push through today, the legs were not in great shape.

But I think I was trying hard from inside where I was not letting go easily. Credit to [Vitidsarn], he was putting in shuttles continuously, at a good speed. He wasn’t making any easy errors at any point...

Read more