For those who ask any sports activities fan within the nation,” which Indian participant has been essentially the most constant in defeating a few of the finest gamers on this planet within the final one 12 months and is bringing laurels to the nation,” the reply HS Prannoy shouldn’t shock you.
Prannoy actually hit the creativeness and conscience of the nation, when on reside TV, taking part in the Thomas cup semifinals towards a powerful and extremely motivated crew from Denmark, taking part in with a sprained ankle and clearly in ache when he stepped on the injured foot, he performed the match of his life to carve out a memorable victory over Rasmussen Gemke to catapult India into the finals of the Thomas Cup.
He performed a very managed and articulate sport to disclaim the Danes an opportunity to elevate the cup. In all my years as a Nationwide coach and TV commentator, I can not recall a match like that, the place an injured participant taking part in in a top-class competitors has performed with such focus, poise, intelligence and management.
As an astounding nation watched the victory unfold, glued. the TV display screen, Prannoy turned a nationwide hero in a single day. Each Indian turned his fan together with a beaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who first talked to the Indian crew in Bangkok the place the Thomas cup was being performed with a particular point out of Prannoy. The PM additionally threw a dinner for the Indian crew and had an extended dialog with Prannoy.
However Prannoy who had a career-high world rank of, 8 in 2018 has been the unsung hero of Indian Badminton for Lengthy. He has lived within the shadow of Parupalli Kashyap first after which of Kidambi Shrikant. Even a 20-year-old Lakshya Sen obtained extra mileage within the media along with his chutzpah and a few good victories earlier this 12 months as he reached the finals of the All England and the German open. However lurking within the shadows didn’t cease Prannoy from carving out some excellent performances.
In 2015 on the India tremendous sequence he defeated world no 2 Jan Jorgensen in three Video games.
2016 noticed him successful the Swiss Grad Prix the place he was defeated within the finals by high seed Marc Zwiebler of Germany.
In 2018 he shocked the then world’s no 1 ranked Korean Son Gained Ho on the Asian Championships.
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Moreover, simply earlier than the beginning of his senior profession, he confirmed sufficient expertise to get a silver medal on the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore. The identical 12 months he additionally obtained a bronze on the World Junior championships.
However why am I giving all these statistics about Prannoy? Properly, I’ve a critical cause for this. A couple of days again when he was once more giving an impressive efficiency on the Singapore open championships, I had despatched a message requesting to offer me a letter endorsing my title for a nationwide award which I strongly assume I deserve.
However it would strengthen my declare if one other nationwide awardee endorses your software.
However his reply shocked me when he replied that he would love to assist me, however can’t. Why I requested, now very curious. He stated, “Sir I’ve not obtained any nationwide award in my lengthy profession.” I used to be speechless, to say the least.
That is certainly a nationwide Disgrace. Here’s a shuttler who has defeated, from 2015 to 2018, the world’s no 1 and a pair of in Son Gained Ho and Jorgensen. He has defeated reigning Olympic champion Chen Lengthy, and Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei.
He has received the Swiss Open Grand Prix gold defeating a a lot larger ranked Marc Zwiebler of Germany. Not solely this, however as a junior he obtained a Silver medal in Youth Olympics and a bronze medal on this planet junior championships.
And whereas the remainder of the world smelt the mud on the balletic toes of world and Olympic champion Viktor Axelson, our man Prannoy defeated this nearly invincible Danish big within the Indonesian masters 2021. And he reached the rank of 8 on this planet.
I’ll come again to the listing of the largest names he has defeated a bit later, however simply his efficiency in 2015 ought to have gotten him at the very least the Arjuna award. However his showcase is naked. No Arjuna. The authorities have merely not executed justice to this nice participant who has executed yeoman service to Indian badminton since 2010. This lacuna should be addressed forthwith.
Earlier than I finish this text enable me to carry the listing of world-class gamers he has defeated. Based on Wikipedia Prannoy had overwhelmed Lee Chong Wei twice, present world champion Loh Kean twice, Chou Tien Chen thrice, Jan Jorgensen 4 instances, Viktor Axelson as soon as, Anders Antonsen twice, Son Gained Ho twice, Taufiqe Hidayat as soon as and lastly the residing legend from China Lin Dan thrice. The one high participant he had not been in a position to finest is Kento Mamota of japan to whom Prannoy has misplaced 8 steady instances.
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