HS Prannoy not complacent about Olympic qualification despite higher ranking

The Indian shuttler talks about his journey, challenges, and goals in badminton.

Asian Games bronze medalist HS Prannoy emphasizes that he is not taking his qualification for the Paris Olympics for granted, despite his current eighth position in the world rankings, given the stiff competition in men’s singles in India.

Prannoy currently holds the 7th spot in the Road to Paris ranking, with compatriots Lakshya Sen at 17 and Kidambi Srikanth at 20. According to the qualification rules, a country can send two players to the Olympics only if both are ranked among the top 16 in the world ranking by the end of the qualification period on April 28, 2024.

“Qualifying for the Paris Olympics is the primary aim right now. There are 10-12 tournaments left before the qualification ends, and I can’t take anything for granted,” said Prannoy on the sidelines of an event to announce his exclusive collaboration with Federal Bank.

“The competition in men’s singles is very high. I need to stay consistent and focus on my training and continue to work hard,” added the 2023 Malaysia Masters champion.

Prannoy, who became the first Indian men’s singles player to win an Asian Games bronze medal since 1982 in Hangzhou last month, has been out of action due to back pain. He is scheduled to participate in the Japan Open World Super 500 and China Open World Super 750 tournaments this month.

“I am still recovering from the back pain and have started training again. I am looking forward to being on the Tour again, but I am not going to take any risk with my fitness,” the 31-year-old added.

Speaking about his Asian Games campaign, Prannoy said he was able to push himself for a medal in men’s singles but was disappointed that his injury did not allow him to play in the men’s team final.

“The team silver is huge because the Asian Games is a tough tournament. Everybody was charged up to perform well, and that is why we got the medal. I wish I was fully fit for the final,” he said.

“A lot of things could’ve gone wrong. I was injured, people were ill, but things fell in place. But I fought hard for that individual medal. On the quarterfinal day, it was about how much I could push myself,” Prannoy added, mentioning that he was willing to give his all in that match.

The world No. 8 said Indian badminton players are benefiting from government support for training, tournaments, and sports science. “Thanks to the support from the government and partners like Federal Bank, we can focus on badminton as many things are taken care of,” he added.

Prannoy pointed out that badminton as a sport has grown immensely in the country, with many academies training upcoming players. He stressed the need for higher prize money in domestic tournaments and corporate support for players.

He also emphasized the importance of top players training together. “I was lucky enough to play in a big group with top players. That’s how you learn. It increases the opportunities for Olympic medals,” he said, adding that it was important to have more qualified coaches in the system and encourage former players to get into coaching.