A look at HS Prannoy's qualification for Paris Olympics 2024

HS Prannoy will debut at Olympics in Paris 2024.

HS Prannoy has qualified for the Olympics for the first time at the age of 31. This talented player from Thiruvananthapuram secured his spot at the Olympics by finishing ninth in the Road to Paris Rankings, thus ensuring his Paris Olympics qualification. Known as the “Giant Killer,” Prannoy has stunned numerous badminton luminaries, including Chen Long, Lee Chong Wei, Taufik Hidayat and Lin Dan in his career. Remarkably, he boasts a positive head-to-head record against badminton’s GOAT, Lin Dan, leading 3-2.

However, Prannoy’s journey has been marred by injuries, preventing him from delivering consistent performances. His career seemed to be in decline until a pivotal moment after the 2021 World Championships when his fortunes began to turn. HS Prannoy soon ascended to become India’s No. 1 player in the rankings and he has maintained his top form ever since.

How did HS Prannoy qualify for Paris Olympics?

HS Prannoy secured his qualification for the Paris Olympics by finishing ninth in the Race to Paris, amassing 75,847 points. The Race to Paris considers the top 10 tournaments during the Olympic cycle’s qualification period. This period began on May 1, 2023 and concluded on April 28, 2024.

HS Prannoy’s Journey to Paris Olympics

HS Prannoy faced a challenging start to his build-up for the Paris Olympics following the Tokyo Games, as he grappled with injuries and was not in peak condition. However, there’s a saying that every man will have his day and Prannoy’s day arrived during the 2021 World Championships when he overcame the gastrointestinal issues that had plagued him since 2018. His situation worsened when he tested positive for COVID-19, which affected his form.

Nevertheless, he managed to improve his condition through breathing exercises. His resilience paid off as he reached the quarter-finals, defeating Ng Ka Long Angus (8th seed) and Rasmus Gemke (11th seed), before losing to the eventual champion, Loh Kean Yew.

Prannoy’s persistence was rewarded; he played a crucial role in India’s victory at the 2022 Thomas Cup. That year marked a significant turnaround for him, reaching six quarter-finals and two semi-finals on the world tour. He qualified for the World Tour Finals for the first time in his career and reached his first final since 2017 at the Swiss Open.

2022 was a good year, but 2023 was even better for Prannoy. He clinched his first world tour title at the Malaysia Masters, defeating Weng Hong Yang in the final. He also earned his first World Championship medal by beating the home favourite and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals and also secured an Asian Games bronze medal after a victory over Lee Zii Jia.

However, in 2024, Prannoy’s form declined as he battled a recurring health issue causing nausea, leading to a weight loss of 4kgs in recent months. The same acid reflux problem that he faced years ago resurfaced. Consequently, Prannoy has had to strictly monitor his diet, resulting in reduced food intake and further weight loss.

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Major Highlights in his Career

• Won the silver medal at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
• Defeated badminton legends like Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Chen Long and Taufik Hidayat which earned him the tag of the “Giant Killer.”
• Positive head-to-head against Lin Dan.
• 2018 Asian Championships bronze medal, 2022 Asian Games bronze medal.
• Played a key role at 2022 Thomas Cup.
• 2023 World Championship bronze medal.
• Malaysia Masters 2023 winner, Australia Open 2023 runner-up.
• Career best ranking of WR 7.

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