HS Prannoy believes he can succeed in the Olympics in Paris after winning bronze at the World Championships
HS Prannoy, an Indian badminton player, believes that his performance right now is at its peak. At the just-completed BWF World Championships 2023, Prannoy took home the bronze medal.
Ankush Pandey
India's top-ranked men's singles player, HS Prannoy, feels optimistic going into the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Prannoy, who has seen a remarkable resurgence in the last six months, believes that this is the best he has ever been in his professional life.
Prannoy, India's top-ranked singles player, is a late bloomer who is presently 31 years old. In August, he advanced to the BWF World Championships semifinals. After returning from Copenhagen, Prannoy expressed his happiness at taking home the bronze medal in an interview with India Today.
Prannoy expressed his happiness at finally reaching the podium in an interview with India Today on August 28.
The route Prannoy took to reach the semifinals was nothing short of valiant. He eliminated world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, guaranteeing India the bronze. Prannoy's performance was impressive even if she lost against last year's finalist and No. 3 in the world Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-finals. It was a close encounter, with Prannoy taking the opening game but ultimately losing to Vitidsarn's skill in the following games.
Given Prannoy's professional history, this accomplishment is very impressive. He was once viewed as an unimportant player, but he has catapulted into the spotlight to become India's best chance for a medal at the World Championships and the forthcoming Olympics in Paris. Prannoy, who is 31 years old, has the depth of knowledge, the aptitude, and the unwavering spirit to outperform even younger rivals.
"It's time to refer to myself as a giant. I suppose I wasn't that impressed with the drawings. Running across two world champions before the semifinals is a fatal draw, as Prannoy lamented in the tournament's 2023 edition.
The shuttler, however, defended himself and said that he had improved his ability to play extended matches during the previous six months.
Prannoy stated, "I have been playing pretty well over the last six months. I have been able to dig extremely deep and play lengthy matches, and I think that has been my strength in the previous six months.
I tried to fight as much as I could, and I was happy that I could get those two victories with that style of fighting, he said.
His most recent triumph at the Malaysian Open was a turning moment, kicking off the qualifying process for the Paris Olympics. His confidence increased greatly as a result of this victory, which significantly improved both his physical and mental state. Prannoy is confident that he can keep this momentum going given his current performance and recent triumphs.
Prannoy's recent accomplishments have also elevated him to the status of one of India's top medal prospects in men's singles. Even though he is aware of the strain from expectations, he is still committed to becoming better and doing his best. He is also appreciative of his staff and coach's assistance in helping him prepare for each event and reach his top performance.
Prannoy mentioned Djokovic when he was questioned about his chances at the Olympics.
"I believe I am reaching my peak just in time. According to Djokovic, "35 is the new 25." I believe that my current pace is the finest of my career. In the global tour, I have never been this steady or maintained a position in the top 10 for as long. I'm hoping I'll be able to enter the top 5 shortly," Prannoy said.
