In a thrilling victory, HS Prannoy defeated second-seeded Kento Momota in straight games, and on Wednesday, defending Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen advanced to the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the World Championships.
In a second-round match, unseeded Prannoy outperformed expectations to defeat audience favourite and two-time former world champion Momota 21-17, 21-16.
It was also Prannoy’s first victory over Momota in eight games. The Indian player has only one victory against his higher-ranked Japanese opponent in their previous encounters.
Lakshya Sen, the current Commonwealth Games champion, defeated Spain’s Luis Penalver in a straight games match earlier in the day to advance to the pre-quarterfinals.
Sen, a rising star in Indian badminton, completed the formality in 72 minutes while winning his match in the second round 21-17, 21-10.
On Thursday, an all-Indian matchup in the round of 16 will pit Prannoy and Sen against one another.
