HS Prannoy Kicks Off Paris Olympics with a Win Against Fabian Roth

HS Prannoy of India has successfully started his quest at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning his group-stage match against Germany’s Fabian Roth. Prannoy, who is seeded 13th in the tournament, achieved a straight-games victory, finishing the match with scores of 21-18 and 21-12.

The match took place on Sunday, July 28, at the La Chapelle Arena, where Prannoy initially took some time to adjust to the court’s conditions. Despite concerns regarding his fitness due to a recent bout with chikungunya, he displayed remarkable skill and energy throughout the game.

In the first game, the match included many long rallies, with Roth testing Prannoy with an impressive array of shots. Roth, currently ranked 82nd in the world, tried hard to push Prannoy back with his swift drives and pushes. Although Prannoy began by attempting quick exchanges to move Roth around the court, he initially struggled to gain the upper hand.

However, it was when Prannoy switched to his signature long rallies that he began to find his rhythm and success. His strategic play frustrated Roth significantly, especially in the final moments of the first game, leading Roth to mishit some important shots.