Badminton News: BWF World Tour Finals - HS Prannoy out of semi-final race after losing to China's Lu Guang Zu

It was the second consecutive defeat of Prannoy at the BWF World Tour Finals, having lost to Kodai Naraoka of Japan in the opening match on 7 December.

Zu gained a 6-4 lead despite both players being evenly matched in the early stages of the match's opening set. Prannoy tried to fight back, but his opponent went into the break with an 11-9 lead.

Commonwealth gold medallist Prannoy responded with renewed vigour and motivation and dominated the rallies to gain an 18-16 lead, but Zu did not falter and eventually won the first game 23-21 with a precise return on the backline.

Both players were tightly matched in the second set. Zu went into the break with a one-point lead, but Prannoy discovered his momentum after the break to race to an 18-13 lead. 

The Indian shuttler roared back into the contest by clinching four points on a weak return from his Chinese opponent, forcing the match into a decider.

Prannoy carried on with his winning momentum in the final game, racing to a 6-3 advantage. However, Zu soon rediscovered his footing to gain a 7-6 lead.

Zu maintained a firm grip on his lead until Prannoy equalized the score at 19-19. The 26-year-old Chinese shuttler clinched the match after one hour and 24 minutes of play as Prannoy went wide following an excruciating rally.

The result meant Prannoy is out of contention for a spot in the last four. However, he will lock horns with World No. 1, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, in his final group A clash of the World Tour Finals on December 8.