Indian shuttler HS Prannoy suffered a dramatic second-round defeat to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew at the Super 750 badminton tournament after losing momentum midway through the deciding game in unusual circumstances. Prannoy, who appeared firmly in control while leading 14-11 in the final game, repeatedly looked towards the roof of the arena in visible confusion after several attacking shots unexpectedly dipped into the net during crucial rallies.

The Indian player eventually lost the contest 18-21, 21-16, 21-15 after a sudden collapse in the deciding game. Observers noted that Prannoy appeared puzzled by the shuttle’s movement, seemingly suspecting airflow interference near the court. His repeated glances upward suggested concern about possible air conditioning currents affecting the shuttle trajectory, particularly after two powerful smashes unexpectedly failed to clear the net despite being well-timed attempts.

Until that stage, Prannoy had played a composed and disciplined match against the former world champion from Singapore. Loh Kean Yew had committed several unforced errors earlier in the decider, allowing the Indian to build a healthy lead. However, after the momentum shift at 14-11, Prannoy struggled to regain control as multiple strokes continued to fall short, disrupting his rhythm and confidence during the latter stages of the match.

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The Indian attempted several tactical adjustments in response to the changing shuttle behavior. He reduced the intensity of his smashes, tried higher parallel shots, and even moved closer to the net to shorten the distance of his attacks. Despite those changes, the shuttle repeatedly failed to travel as expected, resulting in further errors. Loh Kean Yew capitalized on the uncertainty and produced a dominant run of points to move from trailing to commanding the contest.

Prannoy’s growing caution eventually affected his overall game plan, with the Indian becoming increasingly hesitant to attack aggressively. Loh Kean Yew, meanwhile, gained confidence and accelerated through the closing stages of the decider, taking advantage of Prannoy’s mounting errors. The Singaporean surged ahead with a decisive run before sealing victory when Prannoy attempted an aggressive push that sailed beyond the backline.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Indian badminton had mixed results across categories. Lakshya Sen advanced after benefiting from the withdrawal of Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn, while PV Sindhu registered a comfortable victory in her match. The men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also progressed, although they required significant mid-match adjustments before overcoming their opponents. The tournament continues to serve as an important preparation platform for Indian players ahead of a packed international badminton calendar.

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