HS Prannoy, Satwiksairaj-Chirag Shetty Assure India Of Asian Games Medals, PV Sindhu Bows Out In Quarterfinals

HS Prannoy battled his way to the semifinals, becoming only the first Indian in 41 years to win a badminton medal in men's singles at the Asian Games, but it was curtains for PV Sindhu in women's singles in Hangzhou on Thursday. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty then progressed to the last four, becoming the second Indian men's doubles pair to secure a medal after Leroy D'sa and Pradeep Gandhe won a bronze in 1982. Playing with a taping on his lower back and a belt under his shirt, Prannoy battled severe back spasm to dish out a performance for the ages, outshining Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia 21-16 21-23 22-20 in the quarterfinals to assure India a second badminton medal at the ongoing Games. (Asian Games 2023 Medals Tally | Asian Games 2023 Full Schedule)

India had won a silver in men's team championships last Sunday.

"I think it was a really tough one out there. I think Lee is always a tough opponent. It was a very physical match today for me," Prannoy said after the match.

"I'm not at all in a condition where I could say I'm 80 per cent right. But I think to pull off something like this, I would give a lot of credit to myself. I think the will to fight was always there. So I think that paid off." Prannoy will face home favourite China's Li Shi Feng for a spot in the final.

Satwik and Chirag then claimed a men's doubles medal after 41 years with an easy 21-7 21-9 win over Singapore's Nge Joo Jie and Johann Prajogo in the quarterfinals to set up a clash with Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Sooh Wooi Yik on Friday.

However, Sindhu had to endure the pain of returning without a medal for the first time in nine years after she lost 16-21 12-21 to world No.5 Chinese He Bingjiao in 47 minutes to bow out of the competition.

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