Probably the most constant Indian singles participant within the final 12 months, Prannoy, ranked world quantity 9, gained the Malaysia Masters in Could and got here inside sniffing distance of bagging one other title in Sydney, earlier than ending runner-up finally week’s Australian Open.
“Proper now, most likely I’m in a superb place. I had a number of respectable tournaments post-Could however I’d say I’m by no means glad and I all the time wish to go on the market and win large tournaments, that is been all the time my ambition,” Prannoy instructed PTI.
“Final couple of years, I’ve been persistently in a position to play quarterfinals and semifinals and now I’m attempting to be sure that I’m going that further yet another spherical and be within the ultimate and win these tournaments.”
The 31-year-old Indian, who reached three quarterfinals and a semifinal in addition to the 2 finals this season, had achieved the world quantity Eight rating in 2017 earlier than well being points affected his recreation as he plummeted to 33 in 2021.
Nonetheless, the person from Thiruvananthapuram returned to the highest 10 in December final yr earlier than attaining a career-best world quantity 7 rating in Could this yr.
“Within the coming months that would be the problem: to get into the highest 5, or be within the high three on the earth, which I’ve by no means been in a position to do until now. I believe that’s the goal as of now. I’m not trying manner forward, on the Olympics,” Prannoy mentioned.
“Now the targets are a lot shorter, how we will carry out subsequent week or say World Championship or China Open, that is the one goal and the remainder of issues will care for itself.”
The subsequent task would be the World Championships (August 21-27) in Denmark, adopted by China Open Tremendous 1000 (September 5-10) and the Asian Video games (September 23–October 8) in Hangzhou.
Prannoy had quarterfinal finishes within the final two editions of the World championships however he would not wish to put himself beneath any form of stress this time as restoration would be the key, particularly after coming from three successive tournaments.
“I’m not actually trying into the world championships as of now, I do know it’s simply two weeks away. To be sincere, we had three back-to-back tournaments — Korea, Japan and Australia,” he mentioned.
“I had a superb three weeks of tournaments. Korea was additionally good however situations have been difficult, I could not go previous quarters.
“Japan and Australia have been superb, I performed some good matches in opposition to high gamers and to achieve a ultimate of a 3rd event is all the time robust bodily and mentally.”
Prannoy, who performed a pivotal function in India’s epic Thomas Cup win, reached the pre-quarters in Korea, and quarters in Japan earlier than making the ultimate in Australia.
“Wanting ahead to the World Championships, we hardly have 10 days. With a busy schedule, it’s robust to get again to 100 per cent in such a brief span, however sure, I’ll attempt to get my physique prepared for the World Championships.
“However I’m not actually forcing myself in any manner saying that I ought to carry out very well within the World Championships, as a result of we now have to know that we now have to care for the physique first, as a result of we now have a very lengthy season forward.”
The 12-month Olympic Qualification interval started on Could 1, 2023. The qualification will run till April 28, 2024, with gamers throughout the globe competing week after week, preventing for the rating factors with the Race to Paris rating lists (as of April 30, 2024) used to find out the preliminary record of qualifiers.
“I all the time assume that if there was one qualification mark like athletics, like timing or quantity then you do not have pressure for six months or one yr. However sadly, we do not have that in badminton,” Prannoy mentioned.
“We must play the complete yr and it is so simple as that, by the top of April 2024, you’ll have to be within the high 16 on the earth, you must be the highest two from the nation.
“However it is extremely hectic with the variety of tournaments we now have, we now have to plan effectively upfront. Now we have to be very positive about which occasions we now have to play, that’s the stress.”
Eight instances this yr, Prannoy has recovered from a gap recreation loss and went on to assert the match six instances, and he mentioned he’s reaping the rewards of the modifications that he introduced in his total coaching.
“The previous couple of years, there had been a number of modifications. I’ve a staff of people who find themselves serving to me with a number of issues. One factor is to coach the psychological facet of it, how you can get more durable and how you can not depart off the scenario.
“It was occurring previously the place a number of robust conditions used to return in opposition to sure gamers and you’re by no means in a psychological state to combat in opposition to them. These sorts of issues have modified within the latest previous.
“I’ve been in a position to work on it and that is why there have been a number of matches the place I’ve misplaced the primary recreation and been in a position to come again within the second and third recreation and nonetheless been in a position to win matches.
“We’re engaged on it, to take care of these sorts of conditions, that is why most likely there was a change in my recreation.”
