'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The start to the 2018 season did not prove to be a memorable one for the Indian national champion HS Prannoy. The World No. 10 slumped to a shock 4-21, 6-21 loss to the 167th ranked Shreyansh Jaiswal of India in a first-round match that lasted just 13 minutes at the $350,000 Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta India Open 2018 in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The India No. 2 shuttler was in obvious discomfort from the start of the match at this BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament and could hardly move. Prannoy later explained that the loss was due to several foot corns that he has developed.
Doctor’s negligence is the reason why his first treatment wasn’t successful and he is scheduled to go for another procedure on Thursday. It has prevented him from picking up the racquet for the last 15 days.
Prannoy also explained that there was no way for him to skip the tournament or concede the match due to new BWF rules. Since the Pullela Gopichand protégé had not participated in the previous two Super 500 events in Malaysia and Indonesia, he simply had no choice but to play at the India Open, in spite of being in no condition to do so.
“I had to participate in the India Open because of the new BWF rule of mandatory 12 tournaments,” said Prannoy.
“I couldn’t even concede the match because I have a compatriot as the opponent and according to BWF rules if you concede against the same country opponent, you won’t get ranking points, so I had to play though I am in no position to play.”
Sai Praneeth beats World No. 23
Eighth seed B Sai Praneeth had to work hard to get his campaign off to a winning start at the India Open 2018. The Singapore Open Superseries winner needed 1 hour 1 minute to see off the 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Rajiv Ouseph 21-11, 17-21, 21-17.
