HS Prannoy is the top-ranked singles player in India and the sole representative in the top 10 global rankings.
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In a fitting start to the India Open Super 750, HS Prannoy took center stage, representing India first in the singles category. In a year marked by the uneven performances of Lakshya Sen and Srikanth Kidambi, and the struggles of PV Sindhu, Prannoy has risen to become India’s top singles player—currently the only one ranked in the global top 10.
On a chilly Delhi morning, Prannoy was on fire, outplaying the former world number two, Chou Tien Chen, in two straight games, securing his round two spot. Prannoy’s battles with Chou in their last seven encounters often led to long-winded matches. They typically do not have easy games, but Prannoy hit the ground running, speeding through game one.
Despite the toughness of the match, including a point where he was behind in Game 2, Prannoy didn’t let up. He adapted his play and pushed through to win both games, with scores of 21-6 and 21-19. This ability to keep going and adjust as needed has brought Prannoy to the forefront of the sport.
Although he has been in the scene for over a decade, boasting major wins against legends, Prannoy wasn’t always the main figure in Indian men’s singles. There were others like Parupalli Kashyap, Srikanth Kidambi, B Sai Praneeth, and even the youngster Lakshya Sen, who all had their turn in the spotlight.
But as of January 2023, after recently turning 30, Prannoy finally became India’s top male singles player. It took him time to get there, but he made it. Starting with a bang, Prannoy clinched a silver at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Boys singles. He added another silver at the 2011 Bahrain International Challenge. After that, he had a rough patch with form and injuries.
In a significant moment for India at the 2022 Thomas Cup, Prannoy clinched a win against Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, confirming a first-ever semifinal for India, and ultimately, a historic win for the country. He put up the same performance against Denmark, ensuring India’s passage to the final. Prannoy had an impressive performance 2022 year, making it to six quarterfinals and two semifinals.
He advanced to the quarterfinals in the 2022 BWF World Championships as well. These achievements helped him climb back into the Top 15 after a gap of four years, and he qualified for the BWF World Tour Finals for the first time. With his persistence and ability to adapt, Prannoy’s journey to the top is a testament to his hard work and tenacity in the sport of badminton.
HS Prannoy’s outstanding performance at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou was cut short when he lost to China’s Li Shi Feng in the badminton men’s singles semifinal. Prannoy was just a point behind at the start of the game but ended up losing 21-16, 21-9 in a match that lasted just over 45 minutes.
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