Badminton: HS Prannoy set for comeback after forced break post Olympics

Ace Indian shuttler HS Prannoy is set to return to badminton action after taking a long break due to health issues post the Olympics last year.

HS Prannoy last played at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he had lost to fellow shuttler Lakshya Sen in the Round of 16.

Prannoy announced that he will be participating in the upcoming Malaysia Open via a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"The shuttle rises, the lights shine, and once again, I dare to dream. Every setback whispers doubts, but every return roars defiance. As I step onto the court in Malaysia, a wave of gratitude overwhelms me," the post read.

"The Olympics was a pinnacle, but it also became a pause. A break longer than I imagined, where the mind wrestled with “what ifs” and the body craved the rhythm of competition. Yet, in those quiet moments, I found my grit. It is said the measure of a player is not in their victories but in their comebacks. Malaysia Open will be more than a tournament; it’s the start of something anew," he wrote further.

He also thanked everyone who has been with him during the tough times.

"To my supporters – those who’ve cheered through the highs and the lows – this is for you. This is for the love of the game, for the belief that even when the lights dim, they’ll shine again. And as I take my first steps back onto the court, I’ll remind myself: it’s not about how many times you fall but how fiercely you rise," the post concluded.

Malaysia Open Super 1000 tournament will be the first tournament of new season of BWF Circuit with top shuttlers featuring in it.