BWF World Tour Finals | HS Prannoy loses to Kodai Naraoka, tougher tests ahead

It was his second loss to a Japanese opponent after losing to them in their lone encounter at the Singapore Open in July. "I thought I was in control for the most part of the game but after 15-15 in the third game, I thought I started rushing and made errors from my end. Probably, it was a bad strategy, I should have been more patient," the 30-year-old said after the match. 

"Coming to the good side (after the change of ends in decider), I could have been more patient. I was doubting myself in a couple of areas in the third game. Maybe lack of match practice made it uncomfortable."

Prannoy will next take against China's Lu Guang Zu, a competitor he lost to at the French Open earlier this year. "All the matches are going to be tough but I have to shrug it off and get ready for tomorrow's match."

Prannoy, who was playing with a severely strapped right knee against the 21-year-old Naraoka, attempted to compensate for his lack of speed with his superior net play. The Indian methodically cut the Naraoka lead to 6-7 after the Japanese had an early 6-3 lead, but the Japanese managed to enter the half with a comfortable five-point lead when Prannoy's shot went long.