Prannoy mentally very strong, I see him as dark horse at Olympics: Denmark's head coach
HS Prannoy is enjoying the best phase of his career and would be one of the dark horses at the Paris Olympics, reckons Denmark's head coach Kenneth Jonassen. Prannoy had a phenomenal season in 2023, winning a maiden bronze medal at the Asian Games and World Championships, and also sealed his first super 500 title at the Malaysia Masters besides finishing runner-up at Australia Open.
Jonassen, who has coached the likes of world no.
1 Viktor Axelsen and world no. 7 Anders Antonsen, believes Prannoy has an all-round game and is mentally strong.
«I definitely see him as one of dark horses.
The last 12 months that he's had, he is again extremely confidence. His game is very rounded. It's a good attack, good defense, very physical appearance, fast and mentally very strong on court,» Jonassen told PTI during an interview.
Prannoy, 31, qualified for his maiden semifinal at the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament after defeating Chinese Taipei's Wang Tzu Wei here on Friday.
«I see him as one of those outsiders that maybe not go in as a favourite. But one of those that when he puts in his his 'A' game is very, very hard to beat, no matter who you are.
»And, I think a little bit what has seemed to have happened, he has been injury free for a long time. He is slowly getting confidence and then matured and experienced, all put into one.
«And that's why I believe, together with his coaches, he's enjoying, I think, the best time of his badminton career at the moment.»
'Physically and mentally, quality of badminton has just gone up' The 49-year-old Jonassen, who had won the 2003 Korea Open and 2004 Singapore Open as a player, has seen the game evolve in the last two decades and feels it has «most definitely» become more
