Need to be consistent to win big events, says shuttler HS Prannoy
HYDERABAD: Shuttler H S Prannoy, who shot to fame by shocking Olympic champion Chen Long and silver medallist Lee Chong Wei in the recent Indonesia Super Series Premier, is aiming to be more consistent in his bid to win big titles.
Prannoy, who is currently ranked world number 21 in men’s singles, had emerged as a giant-killer when he trounced reigning Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei and Olympic champion Chen Long in consecutive two days in the Indonesia Super Series Premier earlier this month.
“To beat Chen Long was really, really special and to probably beat Lee Chong Wei the previous day was even more satisfying for me,” Prannoy, who trains at the Gopichand Academy here, said on Wednesday.
He, however, lost narrowly to Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai in semi-finals.
“It (the wins) gave me a lot of confidence but I need to be more consistent,” the 24-yearold shuttler said.
“I think the only thing left for me is to go and win tour- naments out there. Just performing well is not enough. I have been playing well for the last three, four years. (But) it’s high time that I need to win tournaments.”
Talking about his upcoming tournaments, Prannoy said he will be playing at US, Canada and New Zealand from next month.
Prannoy emphasised that mental preparation plays an interral part in the development of an athelete.
“I think I need to work really well on my mental aspect.
I think just not physically, mentally also you become lot more confident. I just need to be more fitter and probably get more stronger,” he said. NEW DELHI: Suspended wrestler Narsingh Yadav has objected to Sushil Kumar’s appointment as a national observer, raising conflict of interest allegations in a letter to the Sports Ministry.
Narsingh, last week shot off a letter to the Sports Ministry, raising question on how Sushil could become a national observer, when he is involved with the grooming of wrestlers at the Chhatrasal Stadium’s akhada which is run by his father-in-law Satpal.
“Narsingh has written a letter to the Sports Ministry, raising objection on Sushil being a national observer.
According to Narsingh, Sushil would favour his students from Chhatrasal as a national observer,” a top Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) official in know of things said.
“Narsingh has claimed that being a national observer while training kids in his akhada is conflict of interest.”
Sushil, India’s one double Olympic medallist, is among 14 Olympians appointed by the Sports Minister as national observers for their respective disciplines earlier this year.
Narsingh also questioned how Sushil has been appointed observer despite allegations of sabotage levelled against him before Rio Olympics. Narsingh has been suspended on charges doping for four years.
“Narsingh has also apparently written about his doubts over Sushil’s alleged sabotage attempt in spiking Narsingh’s food and drinks before the Olympics and the resultant four- year suspension on him from wrestling,” the official claimed. When Sushil asked about Narsingh’s letter, the 34-year- old said: “That is up to him to write to anyone he feels like, raising whatever objection. I have no hard feelings for anyone or about anything.
“Moreover I do not understand how it is conflict of interest. I am just a national observer, whose job is to monitor the sport of wrestling and giving feedbacks to build a good squad for future Olympics,” Sushil said.