Saina, Sindhu gave us belief: Prannoy

When they started to beat the Chinese continuously, that’s when all the rest of the members got the self belief.

HS PRANNOY, On inspired him

MUMBAI: Star shuttler HS Prannoy has credited PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal for the positive change in mindset of other players while facing tougher opponents. “The one thing which changed among all of us (players) was the belief (to win). (And) in the last five to six years I could see the change,” Prannoy said here.

“Before (earlier) we used to go out there and when we (saw) big names, we used to say its tough. Nowadays whenever we see the big names we are much more confident,” said the world No 11.

Prannoy, along with legendary player Nandu Natekar and chief national coach Pullela Gopichand, was at the prize distribution ceremony of the 25th GD Birla Memorial Masters InterClub Tournament.

“First when we used to play them we used to give them a lot of respect. When I started playing badminton I never thought I could play against these big names or at this Super Series level or at the World Championships,” he explained.

According to Prannoy, when Saina and Sindhu started winning big tournaments and started beating Chinese players, the other players too started believing in themselves.

“The first time when I started playing (against) them there was a lot of respect and things which made me play a very silent game,” he said.

“That was the one thing that changed and over the years the belief, specially in the last one or two years. A lot of credit goes to Saina and Sindhu, because they were the ones who started it. And when they started to win the bigger events, when they started to beat the Chinese continuously, that’s when all the rest of the members in the (Indian) team got the self belief saying if they can do it, then why not us..,” the 25-yearold Prannoy added.