Badminton World C’ships Highlights: SatChi, Sindhu through to R16; Prannoy goes down in thriller vs world No 2

Prannoy had two match points... But Anders Antonsen comes through. A sensational 81-minute battle.

And it is Anders Antonsen for the win! Prannoy was pushed on the defence, kept the rally going just about, but then Antonsen killed it off at the end. 

Take a bow, Anders. Take a bow, HS Prannoy. What a match. 

Antonsen pounces on the net after a loose backhand from Prannoy. Match point for the Dane now. 

Antonsen's turn to up the heat with another big smash and Prannoy can't quite get the energy on the defensive block to send the shuttle over the net. 21-21. 

PHEW. 

A third match point for HS PRANNOY! Nails a down the line smash with superb precision. 

Antonsen on the court again. More popping. 

Oh boy! A flip of the racket in frustration from Prannoy. He is feeling the heat. The shuttle goes wide.

We are back level. 

Prannoy had his arm up to the stands after that last rally... but this is not over yet. 

A patient rally and Prannoy eventually sends the shuttle long.

One match point saved by the Dane. 

HSP HAS MATCH POINTS! A net dribble from Prannoy, Antonsen tries to get cute with a hold-and-flick, then HSP nails the smash. 

A proper treat for smash lovers as Prannoy is dishing cross court ones with precision while Antonsen is putting behind his down the line smashes

Pritish Raj

Oh a bit rash from Prannoy there, goes too hard at a flat push and it goes long. Good leave by Antonsen. 

It's all so tight! 

WHAT A RALLY! After a couple of soft net shots, Prannoy ups the tempo mid-rally and Antonsen is caught defending for his life, Prannoy puts away a smash again. 

There's that guile on display. Terrific net shots from Prannoy and then he nails a smash that completely wrongfoots Antonsen. 

The Dane falls back on his court, rather exaggeratedly... Heh. Mopping and all that eh? 

Just when Prannoy seemed to be opening a decisive lead, couple of massive points for Antonsen. 

Prannoy snatches at a backhand and the Dane is back within 1 point. 

And Antonsen has drawn level now with a down-the-line winner. 

The world No 2 clearly has more fuel in the tank, understandably. Prannoy needs his guile now more than ever. 

Oh what a net dribble from Prannoy! It sets up a slightly loose lift from Antonsen which HSP puts away with intent. 

A 2-point lead.

And now make it 3 points for Prannoy. A wild crosscourt smash from Antonsen goes well wide. 

Another inside-out smash from Prannoy and this time Antonsen gets to it but can't get it over the net. Prannoy moves back into the lead. 

Oh that is a bad miss from Prannoy! Potentially very costly too. A good backhand again gives him the advantage in the point and the kill at the net beckoned, but Prannoy snatches at it. 

Prannoy looked absolutely gassed at the change of ends but seems to be still moving alright, and able to generate the zing in his attacking shots. 

A lovely net shot helps him draw level, and then an attacking rally seems sneak ahead. 

A couple of points right out of the interval for Antonsen, this time it's the Dane turn to floor his opponent with a crosscourt half smash. 

Gurusaidutt in his advice to Prannoy seemed to insist that the Indian start off the points with attacking shots and then slow the pace down if needed. 

Both shuttlers in the match have tried some fancy returns which they couldn't execute be it Prannoy's behind the back lift or Antonsen's jump nutmeg lift (I don't know if that's the right term)

Pritish Raj

Nothing at all to separate the two players and this point to determine who takes the lead into the final chage of ends. 

And it is Prannoy who has the lead going into the other end! A terrific backhand in the middle of tha rally set up the point for Prannoy. 

They kept saying 'Lets go Anders, let's go'

We kept hearing 'Lets go Anna, let's go'

Shivani Naik 

That crosscourt smash to Prannoy's rescue again! Still has some sting in it. Every point is an absolute battle at the moment. 

Prannoy draws level at 9-9 as Antonsen's attempted hold-and-flick goes long. 

Looks like a racket change needed for Prannoy as he misses the sideline by quite some margin from a simple forehand push. 

These rallies will start to take their toll on Prannoy more than Antonsen for sure. Might just become a battle of will.

And off the next rally, Prannoy had the chance to kill the point at the net, but rushes his flat drive and it goes long. 

Feels like a decisive point in the match. 

Oh superb point from Antonsen. Prannoy had the initial control, Antonsen stays in it with good defence, then Prannoy has to dive in for a defensive block and Antonsen eventually puts the shuttle away. 

Another lengthy rally follows... this is getting brutal at the moment. Prannoy does well to stay in it and this time Antonsen makes a soft error. 

A timely injection of power from Prannoy as he goes crosscourt inside-in this time and once again has Antonsen sprawling on the court. 

Can Prannoy once again proclaim, 'been there, Dane that'? Tense, tight 2 a.m World Championship match that.

Prannoy 8-21, 21-17, 5-6.

Shivani Naik 

A run of 5 straight points for Antonsen after that promising start for Prannoy. The ends have not seemed to matter that much but Prannoy would prefer not to concede too much ground before the change of ends...

...and as we type that, Prannoy nails that signature crosscourt inside-out smash of his, catches Antonsen short on the dive. 

And Anders Antonsen is starting to find his rhythm again, looked a little bit shellshocked in the last few minutes. After a delightful touch at the net for 4-4, he draws Prannoy out for a long, long rally and eventually forces the error. 

And Prannoy off to an aggressive start in Game 2, opening up a quick lead. An error of jufgement at the backcourt gives the serve to Antonsen but Prannoy gets it right back after a really patient rally sees the Dane make an error. 

Sometimes Prannoy has been guilty of starting the decider slow, but he is certainly up for it here early on. 

Here's how that 2nd game panned out.

AND HS PRANNOY DRAWS LEVEL! 

That is a typical HSP fightback. Saw an opening at the end and nailed it with the last couple of points. 

What a turnaround. 

OH WOW! DRAMA! Antonsen looks to take the upper hand with a service return but Prannoy is not happy with how early he moved. 

And the chair umpire agrees, he calls a fault on the receiver! Antonsen is not happy. Not happy at all.

OH WOW! What a challenge that is. Antonsen got into a tangle and lets the shuttle drop. And Prannoy's hunch is right. It's called in. 

Oh that might just be a decisive rally. Patient exchange from both players, looking for that opening, and Antonsen finds the line with the round-the-head crosscourt. 

And Prannoy responds immediately with a loud roar again, a whipped backhand winner. Has one of the best backhands in the game, does Prannoy. 

Now a delightful touch at the net from Antonsen, delayed the shot by a fraction of a second and catches Prannoy by surprise. 

Oh much-needed point for Prannoy there, weathering the attacking storm from Antonsen and breaking the rhythm with a lovely backhand defensive block. Prannoy makes it a 1-point game with a precise whipped down-the-line smash winner. 

Prannoy misses a crosscourt smash. Next point, he thinks Antonsen has missed one and challenges it... but it is actually well in. Not even close to out. Antonsen back in the lead after the break. Follows that up with a lovely net shot that Prannoy can't lift over the net. 

Entering danger territory for Prannoy now. 

Another loud roar from Prannoy as he goes into the interval with a 1-point lead. A booming smash that floors Antonsen on his forehand side. Prannoy keeps the fight going for now. 

What a rally! Antonsen in complete control, after patiently working the corners, he nails a crosscourt smash, and then Prannoy responds with a diving backhand save. Antonsen errs next shot. 

And that break has now taken the momentum away from Prannoy, Antonsen bouncing around the court now. 

Antonsen, mind you, is also prone to mini lapses during his matches. Can sometimes go wandering. Trying a bit too much to deceive Prannoy in that rally and it doesn't quite work as HSP takes a 2-point lead.

A break in play as Antonsen works on his left shoe. Perhaps some gamesmanship. 

Quite a lengthy break. 

The longest rally of the match so far! 33 shots. High quality of shots from both players, and eventually Prannoy's lift goes long. 

And next point, Prannoy with another outlet of emotion, nailing a body attack on Antonsen. 

The Indian clearly trying to will himself on here. 

A couple of errors from Antonsen and Prannoy doing well in the opening exchanges here. 

Those few Indian fans (perhaps the players themselves, it won't be surprising) trying to pump up Prannoy. In an otherwise quiet arena, the cheers are quite loud and clear. 

A loud roar, an outlet of emotions almost, as Prannoy's powerful down-the-line smash catches the line. 

Better signs from Prannoy, a patient rally, and is lengths are good; enough to cause confusion from Antonsen at the backline. 

More urgency from Prannoy at the start of Game 2. A little slice of luck at the net cord after a lovely backhand touch, and Antonsen is floored. Prannoy perhaps needs to use the net more. 

"Shut off the first game, focus on five points, forget this...": Gurusaidutt to HS Prannoy (Apart from tactical tweaks too that we couldn't quite catch) 

13 game points for Antonsen, as he places the shuttle perfectly into Prannoy's deep forehand corner. 

Prannoy saves one with a nice crosscourt forehand drive. But misses the backhand by quite some distance next point, Antonsen takes the lead rather comfortably. 

There's perhaps a template for Game 2 and maybe beyond. A disguised service return followed by a couple of smashes. 

Good hustle from Prannoy on defence but it is not enough for the tempo at which Antonsen is attacking, a body attack draws a fault from Prannoy. 

This might already be in 'conserve energy' territory for Prannoy. HSP is adept at extending matches into three games, even when not playing well. Let's see.

A couple of high tempo points from Prannoy and a good kill at the net after charging forward to follow up a smash. 

Oh that is sensational from Antonsen. Prannoy looks to up the ante on attack, nails a couple of big smashes, but Antonsen casually blocks them back and the last of those is a super winner. 

A few Indian fans in the stands trying to make their voices heard. 

Oh a bad miss from Prannoy at the net and Antonsen goes into the mid-game interval with a very handy 7-point lead. 

Antonsen clearly suceeding so far with just moving Prannoy all over the court. Making the Indian scramble. 

Can Prannoy find a solution? It perhaps lies at the net. 

Antonsen was starting to pull away but a couple of solid points for Prannoy. 

As expected, a fairly even start to this match. Antonsen must be aware of Prannoy's fitness issues (he is one of the shrewdest players on tour) so he is already looking to move Prannoy from corner to corner. 

A look at the past meetings between the two players. It's level at 2-2. But Antonsen has both of the most recent two meetings.