One of HS Prannoy’s targets for 2024 was to not just go deeper in tournaments but try and win titles. Frustratingly for him, that would not be at the India Open Super 750 as the country’s top singles shuttler bowed out in the semifinals 15-21, 5-21 on Saturday against world No 2 Shi Yu Qi at the IG Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Prannoy came into the match with a 2-5 Head-to-Head record against Shi but had won their last meeting at the Swiss Open. He started the opening game at a superb tempo, to get the crowd fired up early with a 3-0 lead. But neither player was giving the other an each in the early stages, with plenty of winners being hit and unforced errors weren’t winning points.

Prannoy won a breathtaking rally to make it 14-14, which was easily the point of the match. A 37-shot exchange saw the 31-year-old play a signature backhand smash and let out a big roar. At that instant, the match felt like tilting ever so slightly towards Prannoy. What followed that, however, was a service error that left Prannoy frustrated and suddenly the momentum shifted completely towards Shi.

#IndiaOpen2024 #IndiaOpenSuper750

Not to be for HS Prannoy who fell away after a nice start. Apologises to the fans in the mixed zone, saying he should have done better but thanks for the turnout. Credits SYQ for a super match, for him lessons to learn.https://t.co/FXqFWLA1Px pic.twitter.com/VpnTMfq4g0

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) January 20, 2024

In the second game, Prannoy struggled to get going physically as the mind had some right ideas but the body wasn’t cooperating fully.

After his win on Thursday night, Prannoy had commented that the scheduling wasn’t ideal as a match that gets over at 9.30 pm or so, meant the recovery time would stretch beyond midnight. He’d repeat that on Friday, requesting that at least the final stages of the tournament be played at more reasonable timings. The India No 1, who had attributed his turnaround against Wang Tzu Wei partly to the push he received from the fans, also apologised for the result in the semifinal.

“There are going to be matches like this very often out there where your body might not be 100% and you might have these kinds of days, you just have to forget it as quickly as possible and get back to work the next day,” reflected Prannoy.

Having only just recovered from the flu that saw him lose in the opening round at the Malaysia Open last week, Prannoy said there is still work to be done in building his body up and that it would be important to be balanced in analysing this performance.

A defeat against one of the best players on tour at the moment – Shi had beaten Viktor Axelsen last week in Malaysia – is an opportunity for Prannoy to learn what he needs to do to improve further. “For me, it’s probably better not to analyse too much and go back and see what Yu Qi did well in the game and try to get a few things from his game so that I am better prepared next time,” he said.