Picture Credit: X
In his exclusive interview with SportsTiger, HS Prannoy, the highest-ranked Indian men’s singles badminton player, spoke about the evolution of the sport in the country in detail. The 31-year-old thanked Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, two of the greatest badminton players of India, for paving the way for the others to win Olympic and World Championship medals.
HS Prannoy, who has won a bronze medal in the World Championships in Copenhagen in 2023, is playing some of his best badminton in recent times. He has already secured himself a place in the men’s singles draw at the 2024 Paris Olympics later this year, where he will be aiming to become the first men’s player to win a medal for India.
When asked about how badminton as a sport evolved in India during his career timeframe from SportsTiger staff, HS Prannoy responded, “I think badminton has evolved big time in the last one decade or so. And I would say I think thanks to Saina (Nehwal) and PV (Sindhu) because I think they were the flag bearers. I think especially Saina in the starting when I think she kind of got those big medals which nobody could at that point and that kind of made the sport popular.”
Following the initial success from Saina Nehwal, it was PV Sindhu, who took the mantle forward for Indian badminton in the world, which is something HS Prannoy pointed out and said, “And I think definitely post that I think Sindhu also was able to deliver performances very very consistently. So I think that kind of led to a big change in the belief especially in the system where people thought that okay this is possible from a sport in badminton as such.”
The 31-year-old also talked about the support received by the players from the government and corporates in helping badminton grow in India. He stated, “There was a lot of help coming in badminton because of all those big wins coming from these two. And I think that's why, to be honest, we had a lot of support in the last one decade, especially coming in from government and other corporates as well, where there is a lot of belief, there is potential in the sport where we can go out there and win Olympic medals and world championship medals.”
“So that support came in big time in the last one decade and that's why you could see a lot of players kind of being produced in the last one decade,” HS Prannoy added.
