The badminton fraternity was stunned by the unexpected retirement announcement of B Sai Praneeth, once hailed as one of India’s most promising talents in the sport. After 24 years of dedication, his decision left many questioning what could have led the two-time World Championships bronze medalist to step away so suddenly.
In an emotional interview with Insidesport.IN, B Sai Praneeth opened up about a lot of things and how his life has unfolded since the unfortunate events at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, where he was ousted in the first round.
“Last year, I tried my best, but it wasn’t happening. I had some small injuries, so if I just wanted to play, I could have played more, but I chose not to. I mean, I didn’t want to just play; I wanted to perform at my best. But since it wasn’t happening, I thought, okay, let’s move on because it’s been a tough time for me.” revealed Sai Praneeth.
“You know, my ranking also went down. So I thought I should decide because of the injuries. Injuries are a small part, but, you know, I tried. If I wanted to play, I wanted to play in the top 30 at least, not just in small tournaments” he added.
In a career marked by numerous highs, Sai Praneeth’s victory at the 2017 Singapore Open, where he defeated fellow Indian Srikanth Kidambi in the final, and his bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships in Switzerland stand out as significant milestones.
Achieving a career-best world ranking of No. 10, he etched his name in history as the second Indian man to claim a medal at the BWF World Championships, following the esteemed Prakash Padukone’s 1983 achievement. Amidst accolades, he clinched three BWF titles, including the Canada Open in 2016 and the Singapore Open and Thailand Open in 2017.
Despite representing India at Tokyo 2020, his journey was cut short in the group stage, and persistent injuries have plagued him since. Making his last appearance at the 2023 Guwahati Masters, he currently holds the 109th rank.
Right from the 2020 Olympics, what went wrong for you?
“I don’t know. Maybe COVID affected my body! Because after the lockdown, I got many injuries, and I wasn’t feeling 100%. I don’t know. Maybe it’s because of COVID, or maybe it’s because of the injuries; it became like that. Because I could feel the change in my body once the lockdown ended. So yeah, I don’t know the exact reason, but I’ve tried. I tried my best, whatever I could do, I have done, and I made this decision.“ revealed Praneeth.
“I got infected twice. Because we were travelling for a tournament, alright. Maybe it affected my body. I don’t know. I don’t know the exact reason, but I wasn’t able to get back to my best at any point in time, maybe due to fitness level or whatever it is.”
Why did you choose coaching in the US and not in India? Would you at some point come back to India to train Indians?
“I just needed a change of the atmosphere after everything that happened. I spoke to my wife and we decided to go and take on a new adventure. But of course, I would like to return to India and coach if I get a good offer from around here.”
Now in the coach’s role already, what do you expect from our shuttlers at Paris? Who can win a medal? Can we expect two this time around?
“Definitely, everybody has a very good chance of playing well. The Olympic Games are something very significant, you know. At that point in time, you need to be strong and have a clear focus. During that particular day, that specific one hour, sometimes that one hour could make or break it. So, everybody might be fit for the games; it all depends on that day. So, everybody has a very good chance of winning a medal.”
“In my opinion, Satwik-Chirag have a very good chance because right now, they are the best. So, we can definitely expect great performances from them. PV Sindhu is also there. Sindhu is a big tournament player, so she might excel. And Prannoy is also playing well. So, I think he has a very good chance of winning a medal or maybe even two.” Praneeth concluded.
B Sai Praneeth’s stellar career at a glance:
- Asia Team Championships 2016- Bronze Medal
- Winner of Canada Open in 2016
- Winner of Singapore Open 2017
- Winner of Thailand Open in 2017
- Winner of Arjuna Award in 2019
- Representing India in Tokyo Olympics 2020
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