Indian shuttler HS Prannoy made a significant change in the continental tournament when India returned with three historic medals in men’s badminton. Prannoy won silver in the men’s team event, followed by bronze and gold in the men’s singles and doubles, respectively. The men’s squad, which has been slowly improving for a few years, began the event with a lot of hope. The Indian men’s team has been seen as a force to be reckoned with since their dramatic Thomas Cup victory in 2022, and the young men lived up to the billing in Hangzhou.

The youthful guns on the side had to overcome various obstacles, including Prannoy’s back injury worry and Chirag Shetty’s sickness. Prannoy’s personal fortunes deteriorated as the event went. He developed blisters on his feet, and his back injury had worsened to the point where he had to withdraw from the men’s team final versus China.

Never in my life, I would have thought about winning a singles medal in the Asian Games. It was quite scary when Chirag caught the flu before the tournament. I myself had picked up a back injury ahead of the Asian Games and that kept playing at the back of my head. It has been steady work to help India reach the top level in team events, Prannoy said, currently resting at home due to a back injury.

The Asian Games are concluded. The Olympic qualification season has already begun, and Indian shuttlers are now in contrasting forms. HS Prannoy, on the other hand, has been a steady performer on the circuit over the last two years. Prannoy, on the other hand, is not planning too far ahead. He is currently focused on his priorities. I have three weeks of rest right now and will aim to come back in mid-November, possibly in China, Prannoy told reporters.

The goal will be to remain injury-free and not push when I feel I am injured. I did that in the Asian Games because there was a lot on the line, but now the goal is to stay injury-free in the lead-up to the Olympics, Prannoy added. If recent form is any indication, Prannoy will have to face the responsibility of being India’s top singles shuttler at the Games. It won’t be easy, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Prannoy’s run over the last two years, it’s not to count him out.