HS Prannoy says 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games likely his last, still targeting LA 2028
HS Prannoy said the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games could be his final appearance at the continental showpiece and that he remains intent on pursuing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 34-year-old, a bronze medallist in men's singles at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, is part of India's 20-member badminton squad in Nagoya as the team event prepares to begin on Sunday; India will aim to better the silver medal it won three years ago.
"This is probably my last Asian Games. I don't think I will be able to play at this level after four years. I only want to play at that level, not lower," Prannoy told PTI, while adding he will spend the next 12 to 18 months assessing whether he remains competitive enough to make a realistic push for Los Angeles.
Prannoy said recent competition had bolstered his confidence after a difficult period, noting he took part in the Vietnam Open last week and that the event provided a positive run. "I am in a good place physically and mentally. I played the Vietnam Open last week and had a decent run after some time," he said.
He recalled his achievements in Hangzhou, where India earned its first-ever men's team badminton medal at the Asian Games and where he claimed an individual bronze; the men's team lost to China in the final, finishing one step short of gold. "We missed gold by a whisker last time. Hopefully, we can reach the final and win gold this time," Prannoy said.
Prannoy cited a disruption to his Paris Olympic preparations after contracting chikungunya around 15 days before the Games as a reason another Olympic opportunity matters to him. "My aim is LA 2028. I will push for the next one to one-and-a-half years. If I feel there is a realistic chance of making it to LA, I will continue. Otherwise, I will decide later," he said, and he credited fellow senior shuttler Kidambi Srikanth for motivating him, describing Srikanth as "probably the best men's singles player" India has produced and adding, "Seeing him still play is encouraging and motivating. His results have given me confidence that if he can play, so can I," Prannoy said.
Prannoy's career reached a highest ranking of world No. 6 in August 2023, a year in which he also won a World Championships bronze and the Asian Games singles bronze; for now Nagoya represents both an opportunity and a potential farewell as he presses for team gold and allows time to decide whether another Olympic campaign is within reach. The men's team event in Nagoya begins on Sunday.