Reminiscences of Kidambi Srikanth’s final World Championship match are hazy, close to non-existent. There was a 21-14, 21-14 symmetry to that loss to Kento Nishimoto in 2023 at Copenhagen, with no indication that he won’t make it to the subsequent Worlds. Srikanth is humorously ranked 42 proper this second — a suitably random quantity, with no seed worth in attracts, or to place his previous or future into perspective. He made finals at Malaysia, India’s greatest lead to 2025, so don’t hassle writing him off. However one cause why Srikanth’s first-round defeat in 2023 didn’t register, was as a result of HS Prannoy had gone on to win a sensational bronze medal, sniping on the nice Dane Viktor Axelsen. It was India’s final significant, medal-earning outing in badminton.
On Wednesday, Prannoy must get up in Paris and do it yet again. He cleared a low, albeit prickly hurdle of Finnish Joakim Oldorff, successful 21-18, 21-15 on Tuesday.
Enjoying the yet-not-so-great Dane, Anders Antonsen who even on this casually cruising section of his profession, and nonetheless chasing his first world title, remains to be a formidable World No.2. Some may even say, a title-favourite at Paris, given how constant and clutch he’s gotten. So, Prannoy has a correct combat on his arms, to remain alive on this event. Query is how motivated and hungry can he be? And, how match is he to take the combat to an opponent, who shouldn’t be identified to crumble.
HS Prannoy in motion throughout his R64 win in opposition to Finland’s Joakim Oldorff on the BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris (Image Credit score: BWF/Badminton Photograph)
Prannoy’s legacy is sealed and his profession neatly wrapped with a ribbon after that World’s bronze, and a Thomas Cup title. Moreover being Indian badminton’s final really blissful reminiscence, the late achiever has genuinely traversed a neat path to success and maturity, whereas being immersed in badminton. He performs delectable strokes that transcend his early fame of being a backhand beast. His deceptions are artfully executed. Commentators nonetheless chatter concerning the excessive 60-plus % of matches he wins, even after shedding the primary set. His preventing capabilities are the stuff of legend. And although there may very well be innumerable bodily points at age 33, he can summon the velocity for a mid-rally acceleration and power for a large cross smash-kill. His point-construction is cerebral — and Antonsen isn’t precisely going to be blissful to play Prannoy this early.
Then, there may be his unbelievable file in opposition to the Danes. He merely plots superbly in opposition to them. Axelsen at Worlds, Rasmus Gemke at Thomas Cup 2022. He flies below the radar, and inevitably strikes at them to value them chunky medals. And he’s 2-2 in opposition to the 28-year-old Aarhus shuttler in head-to-head, so he’s held his personal, although he’s not overwhelmed Antonsen since 2018. Antonsen merely hits the subsequent gear on the fifteenth level, and swamps Prannoy on the end. So historical past is in opposition to the Indian.
However there’s at all times that one final resistance to supply, if you find yourself Prannoy. That one tiny shock aspect to unveil even when it’s his fifteenth summer time on a punishing Tour.
Will to combat
Prannoy’s well being points held him again largely in earlier years. And his power and energy is a few spectacular patchwork and a psychological stubbornness to not hand over. He’s slumped to No.34 on the earth, and expectations are usually not lumped on him often – which isn’t at all times an awesome factor. There’s at all times been a Srikanth or a Sai or a Lakshya main the Indian hope. The 2 occasions Indians demanded him to ship — Thomas Cup in third singles, and final World’s after everybody else exited, like Md Siraj he had relished the burden, the searing highlight.
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Now, he’s the one Indian singles shuttler left in males at Paris. However having achieved the medal, it’s powerful to glean if the hearth to show himself nonetheless burns as earlier than, or can, at 33. Tharun Mannepalli performs a recreation much like his, and Sen and Priyanshu and Ayush Shetty are anticipated to hold the torch ahead. However solely Srikanth can carry that classic ability like Prannoy to the court docket – a recreation that surprises, that doesn’t sink and not using a hint. If outcomes are threadbared, Prannoy has stretched the boundaries of maxing his expertise, excess of Srikanth. With exhausting work and tinkering and always discovering options.
Antonsen has Hans Kristin Vittinghuus in his nook, whereas Prannoy has an equally reliable Guru Saidutt. His ticking mind is valued for a way he deciphers opponents. However will Anders Antonsen, together with his leaping elbow-snap smash, show one step too far for the everlasting fighter that’s HS Prannoy?
Spherical of 32 matches: Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto vs Magee-Ryan (2.30 pm), PV Sindhu vs Letshanaa Okay (5.30pm), Satwik-Chirag vs Liu-Yang (6.20pm), HS Prannoy vs Anders Antonsen