HS Prannoy takes indefinite break to recover from illness

Indian men’s singles star HS Prannoy has taken an indefinite break from badminton, the shuttler announced on Monday.

Prannoy, who contracted Chikungunya disease before the 2024 Olympics in Paris, was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the quadrennial event by compatriot Lakshya Sen earlier this month.

“Unfortunately, the battle with Chikungunya has taken a toll on my body, leaving me with persistent pain that makes it impossible to perform at my best,” Prannoy said in a social media post. “After careful consultation with my team, I have decided to withdraw from some of the upcoming tournaments to focus on recovery.

“Thank you for your understanding and support during this challenging time. I will come back stronger,” he added.

The 32-year-old Prannoy was India’s top shuttler in the men’s singles event during the last Olympic cycle. He was a key cog in the wheel for India’s 2022 Thomas Cup-winning team and also won a bronze medal at the 2023 Badminton World Championships and 2022 Asian Games in the men’s singles.

Prannoy also climbed to the top spot in the world rankings, number 6, in September 2023 and was seeded 13th for the Olympic Games in Paris, where he reached the knockout stage after two comfortable group stage victories at the La Chapelle Arena.