Memories of Kidambi Srikanth’s last World Championship match are hazy, near non-existent. There was a 21-14, 21-14 symmetry to that loss to Kento Nishimoto in 2023 at Copenhagen, with no indication that he might not make it to the next Worlds. Srikanth is humorously ranked 42 right this moment — a suitably random number, with no seed value in draws, or to put his past or future into perspective. He made finals at Malaysia, India’s best result in 2025, so don’t bother writing him off. But one reason why Srikanth’s first-round defeat in 2023 didn’t register, was because HS Prannoy had gone on to win a sensational bronze medal, sniping at the great Dane Viktor Axelsen. It was India’s last meaningful, medal-earning outing in badminton.
On Wednesday, Prannoy needs to wake up in Paris and do it all over again. He cleared a low, albeit prickly hurdle of Finnish Joakim Oldorff, winning 21-18, 21-15 on Tuesday.
Playing the yet-not-so-great Dane, Anders Antonsen who even in this casually cruising phase of his career, and still chasing his first world title, is still a formidable World No.2. Some might even say, a title-favourite at Paris, given how consistent and clutch he’s gotten. So, Prannoy has a proper fight on his hands, to stay alive in this tournament. Question is how motivated and hungry can he be? And, how fit is he to take the fight to an opponent, who is not known to crumble.
HS Prannoy in action during his R64 win against Finland’s Joakim Oldorff at the BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris (Picture Credit: BWF/Badminton Photo)
Prannoy’s legacy is sealed and his career neatly wrapped with a ribbon after that World’s bronze, and a Thomas Cup title. Besides being Indian badminton’s last truly happy memory, the late achiever has genuinely traversed a neat path to success and maturity, while being immersed in badminton. He plays delectable strokes that go beyond his early reputation of being a backhand beast. His deceptions are artfully executed. Commentators still chatter about the high 60-plus percent of matches he wins, even after losing the first set. His fighting capabilities are the stuff of legend. And though there could be innumerable physical issues at age 33, he can summon the speed for a mid-rally acceleration and strength for a massive cross smash-kill. His point-construction is cerebral — and Antonsen isn’t exactly going to be happy to play Prannoy this early.
Then, there is his unbelievable record against the Danes. He simply plots beautifully against them. Axelsen at Worlds, Rasmus Gemke at Thomas Cup 2022. He flies under the radar, and inevitably strikes at them to cost them chunky medals. And he’s 2-2 against the 28-year-old Aarhus shuttler in head-to-head, so he’s held his own, though he’s not beaten Antonsen since 2018. Antonsen simply hits the next gear at the 15th point, and swamps Prannoy at the finish. So history is against the Indian.
But there’s always that one last resistance to offer, when you are Prannoy. That one tiny surprise element to unveil even if it’s his 15th summer on a punishing Tour.
Will to fight
Prannoy’s health issues held him back largely in previous years. And his strength and power is some impressive patchwork and a mental stubbornness to not give up. He’s slumped to No.34 in the world, and expectations tend to be not lumped on him usually – which isn’t always a great thing. There’s always been a Srikanth or a Sai or a Lakshya leading the Indian hope. The two times Indians demanded him to deliver — Thomas Cup in third singles, and last World’s after everyone else exited, like Md Siraj he had relished the burden, the searing spotlight.
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Now, he’s the only Indian singles shuttler left in men at Paris. But having achieved the medal, it’s tough to glean if the fire to prove himself still burns as before, or can, at 33. Tharun Mannepalli plays a game similar to his, and Sen and Priyanshu and Ayush Shetty are expected to carry the torch forward. But only Srikanth can bring that vintage skill like Prannoy to the court – a game that surprises, that doesn’t sink without a trace. If results are threadbared, Prannoy has stretched the limits of maxing his talent, far more than Srikanth. With hard work and tinkering and constantly finding solutions.
Antonsen has Hans Kristin Vittinghuus in his corner, while Prannoy has an equally trustworthy Guru Saidutt. His ticking brain is valued for how he deciphers opponents. But will Anders Antonsen, with his jumping elbow-snap smash, prove one step too far for the eternal fighter that is HS Prannoy?
Round of 32 matches: Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto vs Magee-Ryan (2.30 pm), PV Sindhu vs Letshanaa K (5.30pm), Satwik-Chirag vs Liu-Yang (6.20pm), HS Prannoy vs Anders Antonsen
