This year, when India took part in the Paris Olympics 2024, the contingent had the highest expectations for medals from badminton. India entered the tournament with former world number-1 Satwik-Chirag, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, and the men’s singles players who had won the Thomas Cup. We had players like Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy in the squad, but unfortunately, forget gold or silver, we couldn’t even win the bronze medal in the tournament.
Although the LA Olympics seems far away for us, it actually isn’t. The development of athletes and allowing them to perform at their best is crucial, and it takes years. Talking about badminton, with big names like HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth having already passed their prime, the emergence of young shuttlers stepping up has become important. Believe it or not, but Priyanshu Rajawat is one name who could make it to the LA Olympics 2028 and bag a medal for India, but for that, he needs to step up his game and get past the current Indian legendary players.
Priyanshu Rajawat’s journey
Priyanshu Rajawat was not a standout player when he competed at the junior level. However, when he entered the senior circuit, he started delivering impressive performances. Coming from Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar, at the age of 8, he left his city and began training at Gopichand’s academy.
It was in 2022 that he first came into the headlines as part of India’s historic Thomas Cup-winning team, which marked the first-ever title win for India. In 2023, he clinched the Orleans Masters, proving he was ready for the challenge in the years to come.
The road ahead for LA Olympics and challenges for Rajawat
However, it’s not easy for Rajawat to make it to the LA Olympics right now. He needs to work hard consistently for years. With his best BWF ranking being 35, he isn’t going anywhere just yet. First, he needs to break into the top-10. Currently ranked 35th with 41,040 points, he is the third-highest-ranked Indian player after Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy. He needs to win tournaments and improve his ranking to make it to the LA Olympics.
Rajawat’s growing trajectory
Although Priyanshu has shown a growing trajectory since 2022, he has yet to find his best form in the game. He won some tournaments in 2022 and 2023, but he has yet to achieve silverware in 2024.
Priyanshu showcased a mixed performance across various BWF World Tour events this year, with a few standout moments. Notably, he reached the quarterfinals at both the Swiss Open and U.S. Open, highlighting his potential. Additionally, he advanced to the second round in prominent tournaments like the India Open, Indonesia Masters, and Indonesia Open.
Despite some early exits in challenging competitions such as the French Open and All England Open, he is expected to do better in the upcoming tournaments. He needs to work hard to take over from the seniors and make it to the top stage.
The time will tell Priyanshu’s future
While Priyanshu Rajawat has shown flashes of brilliance, it is clear that his journey to the LA Olympics will require even greater effort and determination. By climbing the rankings, winning more tournaments, and continuing to refine his skills, Rajawat could well appear as one of India’s medal hopes in the 2028 Olympics. But for now, his focus should be on taking the next step in his career and making his place in the elite ranks of global badminton.
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