NEW DELHI: Parupalli Kashyap, a former Indian badminton player, expressed his views on PV Sindhu‘s prospects at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Despite her recent struggles following a knee injury in February, Kashyap believes that Sindhu’s reputation as a formidable opponent remains intact.
Nevertheless, Kashyap maintains that Sindhu’s past achievements and her ability to rise to the occasion in crucial matches will make her a force to be reckoned with in Paris.
As she pursues an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic medal, her competitors will undoubtedly be cautious of her presence on the court.
“It’s her third Olympics, she won two medals in the last two Olympics and several world championship medals. So I think she feels she has an edge already even though her ranking doesn’t say it or her recent form doesn’t say it,” Kashyap, an Olympics expert at JioCinema & Sports18, told, as quoted by PTI, reporters during an interaction.
“In major events, I think the opponents also are a little wary of her even though she’s not in form. I think she’s going as a dark horse and underdog considering the last two years of women’s singles.”
Sindhu has experienced a challenging period since her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, she secured the Singapore Open Super 500 title and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. However, a left ankle injury sustained in Birmingham required six months of recovery.
Upon her return to the court, Sindhu encountered difficulties in regaining her form, resulting in seven first-round eliminations. Despite reaching the finals of the 2023 Spain Masters, she suffered another setback in October last year when she sustained a knee injury.
Sindhu made her comeback in February this year, but achieving consistent results proved to be a struggle. Her notable performances during this period included a runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters and a handful of quarterfinal appearances.
“There are clear four athletes in the women’s singles who are out-and-out favourites to make it to the medal rounds but I’m sure they are wary and a little tense about facing Sindhu because she’s a big-match player and her game style is also very suited to major events,” Kashyap said.
“She’s an out-and-out attacking player and backs herself with a fitness level as well,” added the 2014 Commonwealth Game champion.
‘Satwik-Chirag are title contenders’
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are under immense pressure to secure India’s maiden badminton gold medal. Kashyap has identified them as strong contenders for the title.
“I think they are a title contender. And I think the wins in Asian Games, Asian Championships, medals in World Championships, they are one of the title contenders,” he said.
“I think Satwik-Chirag, the Chinese pair, and the Korean pair. These three are the favourites to win the gold.”
Talking about their opponents, Kashyap said: “Their tough competitors will be the Chinese pair against whom they lost during the Thomas Cup. In the last two encounters, I think the Chinese pair won against Chirag and Satwik. So they are the immediate threat.
“They had a couple of tough matches against the Koreans who won the World Championships but I think they scored a win against them in another tournament.
“So I think the Chinese pair and the Korean pair, these two are the ones who are going to be tough for Chirag and Satvik, but I think they would be feeling the same about them.”
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen are ‘dark horses’
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen are set to make history as they become the first Indian male duo to participate in the Olympic badminton competition since 2004.
Parupalli Kashyap, a former Olympian himself, believes that the two shuttlers have the potential to surprise their opponents and make a significant impact at the Paris Games.
“I think Lakshya and Prannoy are one of the dark horses in the draw,” said Kashyap, who had reached the quarterfinals at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Both of them, especially Lakshya played the All-England final two years back. During the Olympic qualification, he came out of a tough qualification period.”
Lakshya had fallen out of the Olympic race but made it to Paris after reaching the semifinals of the French Open and All-England Championships.
“Especially the initial patch of the qualification was tough for him. He had a couple of first-round losses but the way he qualified by making it to two semi-finals and getting good wins against top-level opponents…. It shows his calibre.
“Under pressure he has been winning matches in Thomas Cup, winning matches in Asian Games. He’s a big-match player, he rises to the occasion, especially the big matches, when it matters.”
Talking about Prannoy, Kashyap said: “He is a multiple super series winner and made it to the medal in World Championships, won the bronze beating Victor Axelson and also won the medal in the Asian Games against Lee Zii Jia from match point down.
“Both Lakshya and Prannoy have faced tough situations and have come out trumps. They both are part of the Thomas Cup winning team and have huge experience in big matches. They are capable of anything but they are surely the dark horses.
“They can beat anyone in the draw, be it Li Shi Feng or Victor. I won’t say they are the favourites, but they have a huge chance to create upsets and progress in the tournament.”
Nevertheless, Kashyap maintains that Sindhu’s past achievements and her ability to rise to the occasion in crucial matches will make her a force to be reckoned with in Paris.
As she pursues an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic medal, her competitors will undoubtedly be cautious of her presence on the court.
“It’s her third Olympics, she won two medals in the last two Olympics and several world championship medals. So I think she feels she has an edge already even though her ranking doesn’t say it or her recent form doesn’t say it,” Kashyap, an Olympics expert at JioCinema & Sports18, told, as quoted by PTI, reporters during an interaction.
“In major events, I think the opponents also are a little wary of her even though she’s not in form. I think she’s going as a dark horse and underdog considering the last two years of women’s singles.”
Sindhu has experienced a challenging period since her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, she secured the Singapore Open Super 500 title and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. However, a left ankle injury sustained in Birmingham required six months of recovery.
Upon her return to the court, Sindhu encountered difficulties in regaining her form, resulting in seven first-round eliminations. Despite reaching the finals of the 2023 Spain Masters, she suffered another setback in October last year when she sustained a knee injury.
Sindhu made her comeback in February this year, but achieving consistent results proved to be a struggle. Her notable performances during this period included a runner-up finish at the Malaysia Masters and a handful of quarterfinal appearances.
“There are clear four athletes in the women’s singles who are out-and-out favourites to make it to the medal rounds but I’m sure they are wary and a little tense about facing Sindhu because she’s a big-match player and her game style is also very suited to major events,” Kashyap said.
“She’s an out-and-out attacking player and backs herself with a fitness level as well,” added the 2014 Commonwealth Game champion.
‘Satwik-Chirag are title contenders’
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are under immense pressure to secure India’s maiden badminton gold medal. Kashyap has identified them as strong contenders for the title.
“I think they are a title contender. And I think the wins in Asian Games, Asian Championships, medals in World Championships, they are one of the title contenders,” he said.
“I think Satwik-Chirag, the Chinese pair, and the Korean pair. These three are the favourites to win the gold.”
Talking about their opponents, Kashyap said: “Their tough competitors will be the Chinese pair against whom they lost during the Thomas Cup. In the last two encounters, I think the Chinese pair won against Chirag and Satwik. So they are the immediate threat.
“They had a couple of tough matches against the Koreans who won the World Championships but I think they scored a win against them in another tournament.
“So I think the Chinese pair and the Korean pair, these two are the ones who are going to be tough for Chirag and Satvik, but I think they would be feeling the same about them.”
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen are ‘dark horses’
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen are set to make history as they become the first Indian male duo to participate in the Olympic badminton competition since 2004.
Parupalli Kashyap, a former Olympian himself, believes that the two shuttlers have the potential to surprise their opponents and make a significant impact at the Paris Games.
“I think Lakshya and Prannoy are one of the dark horses in the draw,” said Kashyap, who had reached the quarterfinals at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Both of them, especially Lakshya played the All-England final two years back. During the Olympic qualification, he came out of a tough qualification period.”
Lakshya had fallen out of the Olympic race but made it to Paris after reaching the semifinals of the French Open and All-England Championships.
“Especially the initial patch of the qualification was tough for him. He had a couple of first-round losses but the way he qualified by making it to two semi-finals and getting good wins against top-level opponents…. It shows his calibre.
“Under pressure he has been winning matches in Thomas Cup, winning matches in Asian Games. He’s a big-match player, he rises to the occasion, especially the big matches, when it matters.”
Talking about Prannoy, Kashyap said: “He is a multiple super series winner and made it to the medal in World Championships, won the bronze beating Victor Axelson and also won the medal in the Asian Games against Lee Zii Jia from match point down.
“Both Lakshya and Prannoy have faced tough situations and have come out trumps. They both are part of the Thomas Cup winning team and have huge experience in big matches. They are capable of anything but they are surely the dark horses.
“They can beat anyone in the draw, be it Li Shi Feng or Victor. I won’t say they are the favourites, but they have a huge chance to create upsets and progress in the tournament.”
