India Open 2024: Title priority for HS Prannoy on home turf, Lakshya Sen counting on fans' support

Published at :January 16, 2024 at 1:52 PM

Modified at :January 17, 2024 at 4:28 PM

(Courtesy : Badminton Association of India)

Reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn also spoke at the pre-tournament press conference.

After the Malaysian leg, the caravan will move to New Delhi, India. The India Open 2024 will be the second BWF World Tour tournament of the year and the first Super 750 event of the year. The tournament will be played at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi, India from 16 January to 21 January. The tournament was upgraded to Super 750 from Super 500 last year.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) held a press conference ahead of the India Open 2024 on Monday. Mr Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of BAI welcomed the gathering and expressed his gratitude to all the players for participating in the India Open. He explained how the India Open is so important for India and that holding the prestigious Super 750 events gives a good chance for Indian shuttlers to play with top players.

He further congratulated Satwik-Chirag for their brilliant run at the Malaysia Open and praised youngsters like Priyanshu Rajawat. On being asked if more tournaments will take place in the country, he said that the federation is trying its best to upgrade the Syed Modi tournament to Super 500 from 2026 and India Open Super 750 to Super 1000.

Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy also expressed their views and said they were excited to play in the India Open. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

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Q: Were you satisfied with your performance in 2023 and your approach to 2024 season?

Vitidsarn replied that he played without any pressure, and it was a great year where he won the World Championships. He then said he has to learn a lot from the game and after the World Championships he hasn’t played much. This year he will try to compete in more tournaments.

Q: Was 2023 the best year for you in your career? Tell us about what you are planning to achieve this year

Prannoy responded that a lot of good things happened for him in 2023. To win both World Championships and Asian Games medals in a month was a great moment and that he didn’t think it would happen. He thinks that a lot of work is left because the competition is so tough in the men’s singles and performing every single weak is challenging. In this tournament, the target is to win the title and not just reach the semifinals or finals.

Q: How has your experience been in the India Open?

Lakshya Replied that a few years back it was a good run for him when he won the India Open in 2022. He also praised the crowd who supported him last year against Rasmus Gemke. He revealed that even though he was trailing for the whole of the third game and was playing miserably the crowd didn’t stop supporting and kept cheering him on.

He further spoke about his upcoming match against Priyanshu and said they both have played a lot against each and that off the court they are close friends and sometimes room partners but, on the court, they will always play to win.

Q: What seems to have clicked for the Indian boys in recent times, is it the Thomas Cup win, or your milestones?

Prannoy replied it’s a process where if one player starts to play well the others get motivated. He also said that the Thomas Cup win was a pretty big thing for the team and that a lot of things have changed post that. “We all understand the value of team events.” He then talked about the Asian Games run where the team won the silver medal.

Q: What’s your opinion about PV Sindhu as she is coming back from an Injury?

Prannoy replied that Sindhu is back to training and will be back in action next month. He further said that Sindhu is still trying to prove to everybody that she is still the best in the world and for the last 1-2 years she has had some injury concerns. For someone like Sindhu, who has already had two Olympic medals, the dream would be to win the Olympic gold, said Prannoy.

Q: Last year Lakshya Sen defeated HS Prannoy in the first round and this year also there is a good chance for you both to meet in the second round. What’s your view on this?

Lakshya replied that they have played each other a lot in the past. “As of now, I am focusing on my first match and want to give my best. The competition is so tough, and I have to take one match at a time.”

Prannoy also agreed with Lakshya that the men’s singles division is very tough. He will also focus on the first round first against Chou Tien Chen.

Q: Who do you think will be your biggest challenge this time around?

Vitidsarn replied that many players would challenge him and since he is not in good form many players would be a threat to defend his title.

Q: You are coming in with the tag of world and defending champion and with this being an Olympic year, how’s your preparation different from last year?

Vitidsarn replied that this year is an Olympic year, and all players will be preparing hard, and he will enjoy every match he is playing this year and will try his best to win a medal at the Olympics.

Q: Last year it was quite topsy turvy for you. So how are you planning to make a comeback this year?

Lakshya replied that last year wasn’t his best year and a lot of ups and downs were there. He further said that he has 365 days remaining and he is hungry to do well.

Q: How was it to go back to Thailand after winning the World Championships? Is there was any performance pressure as the world champion?

Vitidsarn said that after he went back to Thailand everyone welcomed him so well. He also sees the World Championships just as a regular tournament. After the World Championships, he didn’t play many tournaments and his form is also not good he will try to do well this year. He also agreed that it (Worlds title) has created a lot of pressure in his mind.

On being asked about his fitness now he said that he is 100 percent physically fit, and his bad performance was due to the pressure in his mind.

Q: How do you look at going to the Olympics

Prannoy said that things keep changing in badminton and you can’t take anything for granted and it’s important to keep training and remain fully fit. He further said that he is mentally at a very good space but at times “I don’t feel good and at that time the team came into the play and helped me to gain my confidence.” He is also happy about his performance in the last two years.

Q: What are the areas you have focused on for the Olympics?

Prannoy replied that the focus was on mainly the strength side of the body, as “you don’t get to develop your strength much due to a lot of tournaments.”

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