Badminton

Seasoned Indian shuttler HS Prannoy has announced a break from badminton to prioritize his recovery from the debilitating effects of chikungunya. The 32-year-old, a key member of India's historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022, has been battling persistent joint pain caused by the mosquito-borne viral disease.Prannoy's decision comes after a challenging period marked by a series of illnesses, including a chronic stomach disorder and a nagging back injury. Despite his physical struggles, he displayed remarkable resilience at the Paris Olympics, winning both his Group matches before bowing out in the pre-quarterfinals to compatriot Lakshya Sen."Unfortunately, the battle with chikungunya has taken a toll on my body, leaving me with persistent pains that make it impossible to compete at my best," Prannoy wrote in a statement. "After careful consideration with my team, I've decided to withdraw from some of the upcoming tournaments to focus on recovery."Prannoy's absence will be a significant blow to the Indian badminton contingent, which is preparing for a busy schedule of international tournaments. However, the shuttler emphasized his determination to return stronger and expressed gratitude for the support he has received during this challenging time."Thank you for your understanding and support during this challenging time. I'll be back stronger," he added.Prannoy's decision highlights the importance of prioritizing health and well-being in the pursuit of sporting excellence. While his absence from the badminton circuit will be felt, his commitment to recovery and his unwavering spirit will undoubtedly inspire others.

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.

India's HS Prannoy made a triumphant debut at the Olympics, securing a straight-game victory over Fabian Roth of Germany in the men's singles competition. Despite battling chikungunya in the lead-up to the Games, Prannoy showcased remarkable fitness and determination in his 21-18, 21-12 triumph.The 32-year-old from Kerala faced a stern test from Roth, who engaged him in intense rallies. However, Prannoy's superior experience and tactical acumen proved decisive. After trailing 14-11 in the first game, he surged ahead with a flurry of points, converting two game points after Roth's error at the net.In the second game, Prannoy asserted his dominance, finding his range and constructing rallies with precision. His deft touch and attacking shots proved too much for Roth, who struggled to keep pace. Prannoy's net game was particularly impressive, helping him to build a comfortable lead.With eight match points in hand, Prannoy sealed the victory after Roth's wide shot. The Indian shuttler's performance was a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit. He will now face Le Duc Phat of Vietnam in his final group match, aiming to secure a berth in the knockout stage.Prannoy's victory marks a significant milestone for Indian badminton. It is the first time an Indian male shuttler has won a match in the Olympics since 2012. His success is a testament to the growing strength of Indian badminton and the country's potential to excel on the world stage.

Seasoned Indian badminton player H.S. Prannoy is determined to overcome a series of health setbacks and make his Olympic debut in Paris later this month. Despite battling a chronic stomach disorder, a nagging back injury, and a recent bout of chikungunya, Prannoy remains focused on building his stamina and preparing for the challenges ahead.Under the guidance of his coach, former player RMV Gurusaidutt, Prannoy has implemented specific drills to address his minor issues, particularly related to speed and endurance. Gurusaidutt believes that Prannoy's ability to step up on big occasions will serve him well in Paris.Despite facing six first-round exits and only one semifinal and one quarterfinal appearance this year due to his health issues, Prannoy has persevered. Gurusaidutt emphasizes the importance of flexibility and unpredictability in Prannoy's game, as well as the need to counter opponents' attacks while avoiding becoming too defensive.Prannoy himself aims to approach the Olympics with a relaxed mindset, focusing on enjoying the experience and treating it as just another tournament in his career. He believes that getting back to basics and simplifying his approach will help him perform at his best.

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.

HS Prannoy, India's badminton ace, will spearhead the nation's challenge at the Australian Open, commencing in Sydney on Tuesday. Prannoy, seeded fifth, has endured a string of disappointing results in recent tournaments. He suffered a shock defeat to compatriot Meiraba Luwang Maisnam in the opening round of the Thailand Open last month. Subsequently, he succumbed to world No. 11 Kenta Nishimoto in the Singapore Open Round of 16.Determined to reverse his fortunes, Prannoy will open his Australian Open campaign against Ygor Coelho of Brazil. Sameer Verma will face Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo of Indonesia, while Ravi will encounter a formidable opponent in eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore. Other Indian men's singles contenders include Mithun Manjunath, Kiran George, and S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian.In women's singles, eighth seed Aakarshi Kashyap will lead the Indian charge. She will face Ukraine's Polina Buhrova in the opening round. Ashmita Chaliha, Anupama Upadhyaya, and Samiya Imad Farooqui will also represent India in the women's singles.India will be represented in the women's doubles by the Panda sisters, Rutuparna and Swetaparna, and the pair of Harshita Rout and Sruti Swain. In mixed doubles, eighth seed B Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy will face Malaysian duo Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien. Tarun Kona and Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli will also compete in mixed doubles.

HS Prannoy, India's top-ranked shuttler, has been struggling with health issues that have impacted his performance in 2024. Despite his recent early round exits, Prannoy remains determined to regain his form ahead of the Paris Olympics.In an interview earlier this year, Prannoy expressed his desire to continue his impressive run from 2023, where he achieved his career-best ranking of world No.6 and became the first Indian shuttler to qualify for the Paris Olympics. However, his performance in 2024 has been hindered by constant nausea, which has caused him to lose weight and experience breathing difficulties.Prannoy's medical condition is similar to acid reflux, which he has suffered from in the past. The malfunctioning muscle lining his esophagus has prevented food from moving down properly, leading to vomiting. This has affected his training and on-court performance, as he has been unable to eat properly and has lost energy.Despite his health challenges, Prannoy has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. He played a crucial role in India's 5-0 victory over England in the Thomas Cup Group C clash, defeating world No.106 Harry Huang in straight sets.Prannoy's win against Huang was a significant step in his recovery, as he aims to regain his touch before the Paris Olympics. He will face tougher battles ahead, including a match against 14-time champions Indonesia on Wednesday.Prannoy's determination and resilience are evident in his efforts to overcome his health issues and regain his form. His performance in the upcoming matches will be crucial in determining his chances of success at the Paris Olympics.

Seasoned Indian shuttler H.S. Prannoy has been battling a chronic gastrointestinal disorder for the past four months, which has taken a toll on his physical and mental health. Prannoy was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 2018, a condition that causes heartburn, abdominal and chest pain, and inflammation of the vocal cords.Despite recovering from GERD and the after-effects of COVID-19, Prannoy has been struggling with the condition again for the past four months. "It's been bothering me for the last four months. It has taken a toll on me mentally and physically, making it difficult to maintain the physical state I was in the last two years," Prannoy told PTI.The 31-year-old played a pivotal role in India's historic Thomas Cup victory in 2022, followed by a bronze medal at the World Championships and Asian Games, a maiden Super 500 title at the Malaysia Masters, and a runner-up finish at the Australian Open in 2023. However, this season, Prannoy has only managed one semifinal finish at the India Open Super 750 and has faced a series of first-round exits.Despite his struggles, Prannoy showed signs of improvement at the Asia Badminton Championships in Ningbo, China, where he defeated China's Lu Guang Zu in a marathon 90-minute opening-round match. "It gives me satisfaction that the things I'm working on are coming good. Those kind of wins give confidence," he said.Looking ahead to the Thomas Cup title defense, Prannoy acknowledged the challenges ahead. "It will be tough this year. There are very tough teams with three strong singles and two doubles, like China, Denmark, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and Indonesia," he said.India has been drawn into a tough Group C with last year's runner-up Indonesia, Thailand, and England. "We have Satwik-Chirag, a strong doubles pair, and Lakshya hitting form at the right time. It will give us an extra boost, but a lot of ties will depend on first singles, third singles, and second men's doubles," Prannoy said.Despite the pressure, Prannoy remains optimistic. "From the team perspective, there will be a lot of expectations on my first singles, but overall it will be very tough to defend the title. Each round, even from the group stages, will be tough," he said.