HS Prannoy is gearing up for his first-ever appearance at the Summer Olympics, and it’s going to be in the city of lights, Paris. For those who follow badminton closely, Prannoy’s journey to this point is nothing short of inspiring. From starting as a young boy in Delhi to now standing on the brink of Olympic competition, his career has been a testament to hard work and dedication.
Prannoy’s group stage opponents are Vietnam’s Le Duo Phat and Germany’s Fabian Roth. It’s a challenging pool, but with his skills and determination, he has a good chance of advancing. His journey began at the age of 10, guided by his father Sunil Kumar, who had his own badminton credentials, having won the All India Air Force Badminton Championship. The early coaching from his father laid a strong foundation for Prannoy, which was further solidified when he joined the academy of national coach Pullela Gopichand.
His career took off when he won a silver medal at the Youth Olympics in 2010. That was just the beginning. A year later, he bagged his first international medal in Bahrain. 2014 was a significant year as he reached his first Grand Prix Gold final at the Vietnam Open and then triumphed at the Indonesia Open. His winning streak continued as he clinched the Swiss Open title in 2016, defeating Germany’s Marc Zwiebler.
Prannoy’s achievements don’t stop there. In 2017, he became the first Indian shuttler to win the US Open Badminton Championships. The following year, he played a crucial role in securing a gold medal in the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games and won bronze in men’s singles at the Asian Badminton Championships.
Now at the age of 32, Prannoy is ranked 13th in the world in men’s singles and is ready to showcase his talent on the Olympic stage. His journey to Paris was secured through the BWF ‘Race to Paris Ranking List’, where his consistent performances earned him a spot among the 35 players competing in men’s singles.
His recent performance at the Australian Badminton Open saw him defeating Brazil’s Ygor Coelho and Misha Zilberman, before falling to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the quarter-finals. These matches reflect his current form and readiness for the Olympics.
Prannoy’s story is a reminder of what dedication and passion can achieve. As he steps onto the court in Paris, we’ll be cheering for him, hoping he adds an Olympic medal to his impressive list of accolades.
HS Prannoy – Paris Olympics 2024