Veteran Indian shuttler HS Prannoy found inspiration from his coach's simple words during a challenging period. He carried that motivation straight onto the court at the India Open Super 750 tournament in New Delhi.
Gopichand's guiding philosophy
Pullela Gopichand, the national coach, has a consistent message for his players. He always emphasizes the importance of longevity in the sport. Prannoy revealed how this advice became his anchor during difficult times.
"He always says to stay long in the game," Prannoy shared after his first-round victory. "I have asked him if I should just wrap it up? He always believes that things might be a little topsy-turvy at times in your career, but it's important to stay in the fight because good things happen only when you are staying there."
Overcoming a difficult season
The 2023 World Championships medallist experienced a tough 2025 season. Injuries and loss of form tested his resolve. Prannoy admitted the mental toll was significant.
"The last season was a little tiring mentally because we had a lot of matches where I think I was there, but I just couldn't convert into my side," he explained. "The season took me to a place where you start to think if you are good enough to win these kind of matches. By the end of the year I think I was not at all in a good space where there's a lot of negative thoughts coming in."
A crucial victory against the odds
Prannoy entered the India Open as a last-minute replacement due to withdrawals. He faced a formidable opponent in Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong, last edition's runner-up. The Indian shuttler secured a straight-games victory with scores of 22-20, 21-18.
The first game proved particularly challenging. Prannoy found himself down 18-20 but displayed remarkable resilience. He saved two game points and won four consecutive points to clinch the game 22-20.
"The win in the first game from 17-19 was crucial against an opponent like him who can run over anyone on a decent day," Prannoy noted. "It was important to win the first game for me."
Navigating tricky conditions
The new arena presented unique challenges for both players. Prannoy acknowledged the difficult playing conditions during his match.
"The conditions here are tricky as it is the new arena," he said. "There is a lot of side drift along with the front and back drift. A lot of my shots just went wide but the good thing was that Lee also didn't have much idea as he was not going all-out. So, that was relaxing for me."
Special support from the coaching corner
Gopichand, who doesn't travel extensively on the BWF tour anymore, made a special appearance. He sat in the coaching corner alongside former India player Guru Sai Dutt to support Prannoy.
"It was really nice to have him on the coaching chair as he doesn't travel much these days," Prannoy expressed. "It is special to have him around and he is still coming at 7 am in the morning to do all the drills with us. It helps the shuttlers also stay motivated."
Fresh approaches for a packed calendar
Looking ahead to a busy 2026 calendar featuring the Asian Games and World Championships in India, Prannoy is implementing changes. He's adopting new off-court routines to maintain freshness and motivation.
"I have got new people on my team and trying to do new things to keep the freshness," he revealed. "On the nutrition side, I am trying new things that are going to keep me motivated."
The victory sets up an exciting second-round match for Prannoy. He will face eighth-seeded Singaporean shuttler Loh Kean Yew, who recorded a three-game win over Chinese player Wang Zheng Xing. The Indian badminton star continues to embody his coach's philosophy, staying long in the game and fighting through challenges.
