Badminton

India's HS Prannoy displayed resilience and determination to overcome a spirited challenge from Vietnam's Le Duc Phat in the final group match of the men's singles badminton event at the Paris Olympics. The 32-year-old from Kerala, who had recently recovered from chikungunya, showcased his fighting spirit to secure a hard-fought 16-21, 21-11, 21-12 victory over the world number 70 Le in a 62-minute battle.Despite looking slightly fatigued and rusty in the opening game, Prannoy regained his composure and executed his game plan effectively in the subsequent games. The world number 13 trailed 8-7 early on, but a precise shot at the corner gave Le a crucial two-point lead. The Vietnamese continued to dominate the rallies, utilizing his jump smashes to trouble Prannoy. The Indian fell behind 11-15 after the break, but he managed to narrow the gap to 15-16 with an aggressive push at the back. However, Le extended his lead to 18-15 and eventually sealed the opening game when Prannoy went long.After the change of sides, Prannoy seized the initiative and opened up a 4-0 lead. Le gradually applied pressure, but Prannoy maintained his composure and went into the break with an 11-7 cushion. The Indian looked calm and in control as he quickly wrapped up the second game to force a decider.In the third game, Prannoy established a 6-4 lead before engaging in an aggressive flat exchange with Le. The Indian went wide, allowing Le to draw parity at 7-7. However, Prannoy regained control and grabbed an 11-8 lead after winning another aggressive flat exchange. The Indian stamped his class thereafter, while Le struggled to find his rhythm. Prannoy quickly closed out the match when Le found the net again.With this victory, Prannoy advanced to the men's singles pre-quarterfinals, where he will face fellow Indian Lakshya Sen in an all-Indian clash. Prannoy's performance is a testament to his resilience and determination, as he overcame physical challenges to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu kicked off her Paris Olympics campaign with a dominant straight-games victory over Maldives' Fathimath Abdul Razzaq in the women's singles group stage match on Sunday.The gulf in class between the two players was evident as Sindhu, aiming for a third Olympic medal, dispatched her lower-ranked opponent 21-9, 21-6 in just 29 minutes.Sindhu, ranked 11th in the world, quickly assessed the conditions and took control of the proceedings, racing to an 11-4 lead in the first game. Razzaq, ranked 111th, proved no match for the former world champion, who wrapped up the first game in a mere 13 minutes.The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu claiming the first four points to take an early lead. Razzaq briefly closed the gap to 3-4, but Sindhu quickly extended her advantage to 10-3.Sindhu had 14 match points, but she needed only one to seal the victory. The 10th-seeded Indian, who won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, will face World No. 75 Kristin Kuuba of Estonia in her second group match on Wednesday.Earlier on Saturday, medal contenders Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also made a winning start in the men's doubles, while singles ace Lakshya Sen got his maiden Olympic campaign underway with a victory. However, the women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost to South Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong.

PV Sindhu's mentor, Prakash Padukone, believes India has a strong chance of winning three badminton medals at the Paris Olympics, including a historic hat-trick for Sindhu. India's seven-member badminton squad includes Sindhu, the high-flying men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and other promising players.Padukone is confident in Sindhu's ability to secure her third consecutive Olympic medal. "She has worked incredibly hard for that," he said. "Her preparations have gone well, and she is playing well in practice sessions."Padukone has been focusing on improving Sindhu's tactics and strategy on the court. "I am focusing on tactics and strategy on the court, on what strokes to use when, and a little to do with the mind," he explained. "We've worked on her mental strength and strategy, ensuring she makes better use of the right strokes."Despite Sindhu's lack of titles this year, Padukone believes her ability to perform under pressure will be an asset at the Olympics. "Expectations are lower, and even reaching the quarterfinals will be seen positively," he said. "But I am looking beyond that. If she is able to reproduce the form, like what she's doing in practice, I think she'll do better than in past tournaments."Padukone also identified Rankireddy and Shetty in men's doubles, Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy in men's singles as potential medal contenders. "We have a chance in all three events: men's singles, women's singles, and men's doubles," he said. "The men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been very consistent and have beaten top players."Badminton matches at the Paris Olympics will begin on Saturday, July 27. India's strong squad and Padukone's guidance give them a realistic chance of achieving their medal goals.

PV Sindhu, India's two-time Olympic medalist, is considered an "underdog" for the upcoming Paris Olympics, according to former Indian shuttler Parupalli Kashyap. However, Kashyap emphasizes that Sindhu's reputation and big-match experience will make opponents wary of her.Despite not being in top form since recovering from a knee injury, Sindhu's Olympic pedigree and past achievements give her an edge. Kashyap believes that opponents will be cautious when facing her, even if her recent form suggests otherwise.Since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Sindhu has faced challenges with injuries and inconsistent performances. However, Kashyap highlights her attacking style and fitness level as strengths that make her a formidable opponent in major events.In the men's singles category, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are considered title contenders for India. Kashyap believes their success in the Asian Games, Asian Championships, and World Championships makes them one of the favorites for the gold medal.Their main competitors are expected to be the Chinese and Korean pairs. Kashyap notes that the Chinese pair has recently defeated Satwik-Chirag, while the Koreans have also posed a challenge.HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen are seen as "dark horses" in the men's singles draw. Kashyap praises Lakshya's performance in the All-England final and his qualification for the Olympics despite a tough period. He also highlights Prannoy's multiple Super Series wins and medal-winning performances in the World Championships and Asian Games.Both Prannoy and Lakshya have proven their ability to perform under pressure, especially in big matches. Kashyap believes they have the potential to upset higher-ranked opponents and progress in the tournament.

PV Sindhu, India's badminton ace, is leaving no stone unturned in her quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic medal at the Paris Games. Her unwavering determination is evident in her rigorous training regimen, which includes innovative techniques and a diverse range of sparring partners.To simulate the high-altitude conditions of Paris, Sindhu created a hypoxic chamber in her room in Germany, where she slept for several days. This technique helps her body adapt to the reduced oxygen levels, enhancing her performance at higher altitudes.Sindhu has also honed her strokes and improved her consistency during long rallies under the guidance of her mentor, Prakash Padukone. She emphasizes the importance of playing the right stroke at the right time, a skill she has developed through sparring with players of varying styles.In Germany, Sindhu trained with left-handed players, attacking players, and even two opponents simultaneously. This diverse training environment has equipped her to handle different playing styles and adapt quickly to changing conditions.Sindhu's journey to the Olympics has been marked by both triumph and adversity. In Rio 2016, she was an underdog, while in Tokyo 2020, she carried the weight of expectations. Now, in Paris, she aims to strike a balance between the two, hoping for a podium finish that would cement her legacy as India's greatest athlete.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy have been drawn into favorable groups for the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to commence on July 26.Sindhu, the reigning world champion, has been seeded 10th and placed in Group M of the women's singles event. She will face Kristin Kuuba of Estonia (WR 75) and Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives (WR 111) in the group stage. While Sindhu's group appears relatively straightforward, she could potentially encounter China's sixth seed He Bing Jiao in the round of 16. Should she overcome Jiao, Sindhu may face Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China in the quarterfinals.Meanwhile, Prannoy, who will be making his Olympic debut, has been seeded 13th and drawn into Group K of the men's singles event. He will face Le Duc Phat of Vietnam (WR 70) and Fabian Roth of Germany (WR 82) in the group stage. The second Indian in the men's singles, Lakshya Sen, ranked 19, has been placed in Group L. He will face third seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, Kevin Cordon of Guatemala (WR 41), and Julien Carragi of Belgium (WR 52) in his group.In the women's doubles event, the Indian pairing of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa has been drawn into a challenging Group C. They will face world number 4 Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong of South Korea (WR 7), and Australians Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu (WR 27).The star Indian men's pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded third in the men's doubles event, will have their draw postponed due to a Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) hearing over the number of pairs in the draw. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is yet to confirm the date of the draw.The badminton events at the Olympics will commence on July 27.

PV Sindhu, India's badminton ace, will carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, while Gagan Narang, a London Olympic bronze medalist in shooting, has been appointed as India's Chef-de-Mission.The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, PT Usha, announced these decisions on Monday. Narang's elevation from deputy Chef-de-Mission to the top position was an automatic choice after Mary Kom's resignation."I was looking for an Olympic medallist to lead our contingent, and my young colleague is an apt replacement for Mary Kom," Usha said in a press release.Usha also confirmed that table tennis star Sharath Kamal and Sindhu will be India's flag-bearers at the Paris Games."I am also delighted to announce that India's only woman to win two Olympic medals, PV Sindhu, as the female flag-bearer alongside table tennis ace Sharath Kamal in the opening ceremony," Usha added.Sindhu, who won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, is India's most successful female Olympian. She is currently ranked seventh in the world in women's singles.Kamal, on the other hand, is a four-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist and a former world number one in men's doubles. He is currently ranked 33rd in the world in men's singles.Narang, a former world champion in shooting, won a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event at the London Olympics. He is currently the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).Usha expressed confidence that India's athletes are well-prepared for the Paris Olympics. "I am confident that our athletes are well prepared to deliver the best results for India in Paris 2024 Olympic Games," she said.