Priyanshu wins opener to join HS Prannoy in India Open second round

Listen to Story Priyanshu Rajawat, 21, marched ahead to the second round of the India Open badminton tournament after an impressive win against Commonwealth Games Champion Lakshya Sen. The youngster joins another Indian, HS Prannoy, who earlier won his first round match in the tournament. The 21 year old, ranked world number 30, made an ecstatic turnaround against the 19th ranked Lakshya Sen to secure a 16 21 21 16 21 13 win in his opening game at the tournament.

Rajawat's impressive performance in the 75 minute opener gained him immense praise. Rajawat's next challenge in the tournament comes against experienced HS Prannoy in a second round clash on Wednesday, January 17. The 31 year old Prannoy won his first round match against Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen with a 21 6 21 19 win after a compact 42 minute match at KD Jadhav Indoor hall, Delhi.

By the time Prannoy took the court, chants of 'HSP' and 'India' filled the stadium. Prannoy, who had been quietly going about his business until then, began celebrating his points with zeal in the second game, which had started on an even note. However, he was 11 16 down when Chen stepped up and began making some good cross court shots from the back.

Just when it appeared that the match would go to a decider, Prannoy rallied to tie the match at 16 16 with a precise net return. The Indian played more soft shots and drew Chen to the net, exploiting errors from his opponent to eventually win. ''The planning was spot on in the first game. I was executing good shots from the back of the court.

He was not getting the length well, so I had to wrap it up,'' HS Prannoy said after his win in the India Open 2024. On the other hand, Lakshya Sen's loss meant the star shuttler suffered a second straight first round exit. This might just have huge implications for the 22 year old's qualification chances for the 2024 Olympic Games..