In a setback for the Indian men's badminton team, HS Prannoy, a key player, will miss the historic gold medal match at the Asian Games due to an injury he sustained on Sunday.
Mithun Manjunathan has been named as his replacement for the men's singles clash against China. This development comes just before the highly anticipated gold medal tie between India and China, scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM IST.
The Indian men's badminton team secured their spot in the final by defeating South Korea 3-2 in a thrilling semifinal match, marking a historic moment as they advanced to the team events final for the first time in Asian Games history.
HS Prannoy played a pivotal role in the team's journey, showcasing his skills in a remarkable match against South Korea's Hyeokjin Jeon. Despite losing the first game 18-21, Prannoy mounted a comeback, winning the next two games 21-16, 21-19, and securing a crucial victory.
The lineup for the Indian team in the gold medal match includes Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, Dhruv Kapila, Sai Pratheek, and the replacement for HS Prannoy, Mithun Manjunathan. These players will aim to clinch the gold medal for India as they face off against China.