HS Prannoy ends India’s 41-year wait, signs off Asian Games with historic bronze

HS Prannoy’s terrific campaign at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou came to a heartbreaking end on Friday after he went down in straight games against China’s Li Shifeng in the badminton men’s singles semifinal. After trailing by only a point going into the opening game interval, the world no. 1 roared through the contest, winning 21-16. 21-9 in just over 45 minutes, crushing all hopes for a gold-medal bid for the Indian. The loss implied that Prannoy had to be content with a bronze, but it was a historic feat for the star shuttler as he ended India’s 41-year-long wait for a second medal at the Games in men’s singles badminton. Syed Modi previously finished third in 1982 edition of the Asian Games.