Thailand Open 2024: Prannoy Knocked Out in Opener by Compatriot; Satwik-Chirag, Ashmita Progress

Top Indian shuttler HS Prannoy suffered an early exit from Thailand Open 2024 following straight games loss to compatriot Meiraba Luwang Maisnam in the opening round at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday (May 15).

The Paris Olympics-bound Prannoy, who was seeded fifth, went down 19-21, 18-21 to world number 84 Maisnam in the men's singles first round match that lasted 55 minutes on Court 2.

The 21-year-old from Imphal, Maisnam will next face Denmark's Mads Christophersen in the second round on Thursday (May 16). The Dane ousted another Indian in Kiran George in the three-game first round clash by a scoreline of 21-15, 13-21, 21-17 in 52 minutes on Court 1.

Earlier on Wednesday (May 14), the top Indian doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the men's doubles pre-quarterfinals after straight-game win over Malaysian duo of Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong.

The top seeded Indian combination took just 34 minutes to get past the Malaysian pair 21-13 21-13 in the opening round match. Satwik and Chirag will play the Chinese pair of Xie Hao Nan and Zeng Wei Han in the next round on Thursday (May 16).

Also, Ashmita Chaliha registered a comeback win over Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo of Indonesia in the opening round of the women's singles competition with a scoreline of 19-21 21-15 21-14 in 54 minutes on Court 3.

The 24-year-old Chaliha, however, faces a tough test in the second round as she will be up against Chinese top seed Han Yue, who got the better of another Indian in Malvika Bansod, registering a comfortable 21-11 21-10 win in 28 minutes.

The 16-year-old Unnati Hooda went down fighting against Belgium's Lianne Tan by a scoreline of 21-14, 14-21, 9-21 in 53 minutes on Court 3. Meanwhile, Imad Farooqui Samiya lost in straight games 13-21, 13-21 to China's Gao Fang Jie.

Later in the day, Akarshi Kashyap will be in women's singles action against Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan. Plus, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran will face Hong Kong's Jason Gunawan in a men's singles match.

Also, the women's doubles pairs of Palak Arora-Unnati Hooda, Nikki Rapria-Nishu Rapria and Rutaparna Panda-Swetaparna Panda will also be in action later on Wednesday (May 15).