Going into the Paris Olympics, many hailed HS Prannoy as a contender for a medal at the Games. Of course, there was only an outside chance, but his win over Viktor Axelsen at the 2023 World Championships, to bag a bronze medal, raised hopes. But then, just a couple of weeks before the actual tournament, the veteran shuttler was diagnosed with Chikungunya, that meant 0 chances at Paris.
HS Prannoy Back
Similar was evident throughout the tournament as well, where he eventually lost to compatriot Lakshya Sen in straight games, in the pre-quarters. To make it to the playoffs wasn’t easy either, as he just managed to beat Vietnam’s Le Duc Phat only three games. But then, to get out of that bout of illness, overcome pain and fatigue and progress at the Olympics, was a great achievement.
That said, HS Prannoy is fully fit now, and he announced it on social media. He wrote, “Sometimes, the body says ‘pause’ when the heart says ‘play.’ After the Olympics, chikungunya hit harder than I expected—turning fatigue into pain and keeping me off the court for three long months. It tested every bit of my resilience, but the promise of coming back kept me going. Now, I’m back in training, stronger, and hungrier than ever. Your support has been my fuel, and I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got. Grateful for the fight, ready for the comeback.”
That said, he will have a chance to prove his fitness at the Japan Masters (12-17 Nov), China Masters (19-24 Nov), Syed Modi International (26 Nov- 1 Dec), and a couple of tournaments after that. In fact, he will have the responsibility of winning a BWF tournament for India, that has remained elusive for all players in 2024.
That’s right, no Indian this year has managed to win Super 500, 750 or 1000 tournament in singles, and it seems like Prannoy could break the jinx. The only titles to come this year were in men’s doubles by Satwik-Chirag at French Open and Thailand Open before the Olympics.
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