What started as a challenge to find a good coach who could believe in his talent, this young lad went on to register a US Open win and, of course, many more down the line. In this HS Prannoy biography, we will explore his interesting life story.

HS Prannoy Biography

Source: dailypost.in

How it all began: Early Days of Prannoy Kumar

“He will never be able to play singles. He isn’t fast, in fact, he is slow and he should shift to doubles,” this is exactly what a coach told Prannoy's dad. Well, the said coach must be definitely regretting it now!

Prannoy's father, Sunil Kumar, is a former All India Air Force badminton champion. The best part, he taught the Badminton skills and techniques of the game to himself. A true inspiration for Prannoy and his biggest supporter, Sunil Kumar saw a spark in Prannoy that no one could. He knew that with the right guidance, Prannoy would conquer the world of badminton. Which is exactly why he did not let any negative comments affect him or Prannoy.

It was the result of his father's determination that Prannoy started playing badminton at the age of 10. Of course, they did take some time to find a professional coach, as multiple people rejected him and advised him to try doubles.

The search for a coach was brought to a fruitful end

The rejections and the wait for a professional coach were absolutely worth the wait for Prannoy. His talent was recognized by none other than the badminton champion Pullela Gopichand himself. Right from developing his game to being patient through injuries, Gopichand helped Prannoy rediscover himself. He also told him to channelize aggression in a subtle way to scare off the opponents.

"You don't need to show it if you have it inside you - opponents are automatically scared," Gopichand advised Prannoy.

"It's an unorthodox backhand, raw power with weapons. We've not worked on it much, it's been like this for 8 years - the power and angles on the backhand,"

Gopichand told the Indian Express when talking about his prodigy's style of playing. The explosive power in his backhand helps Prannoy to dominate over his opponents.

The Journey Ahead

Source: NewsX

Prannoy HS Kumar in action

After some stellar performances on the national scene, Prannoy entered the big league in 2010. His silver medal in boys' singles at the Summer Youth Olympics captured the imagination of the entire country. He followed it up with another silver medal at the Bahrain International Challenge in 2011.

Unfortunately, after that, he had to take a small break in order to recover from recurring injuries. His coach, the legendary Pullela Gopichand, helped him a lot in this period. “Gopi Sir just said to put two years aside for injuries. He said the average career will be around nine years – ‘put two years out because of injury and push yourself to the absolute limit.

“You are young now, injuries will happen – there is no escaping that. Even if you get injured now, it is fine. Push when you are young. Once you are older, you can take it a little easy. But now, push ahead," Prannoy told the Firstpost.

2014 and ahead

He came back with a bang in 2013. He reached the finals of the Tata Open International Challenge. His fitness was not at its peak, and he lost to fellow Indian Sourabh Verma.

Prannoy got a lot of international exposure in the year 2014. He made it to the semifinals in multiple tournaments. Some of them were the India Open Grand Prix, the Bitburger Open Grand Prix, the Macau Open Grand Prix, and the Sri Lanka Open International Badminton Challenge.

He also won the All India Senior National Ranking Championships the same year. Reaching the finals of the Vietnam Open Grand Prix was a huge feat. Though he lost in the finals to Indonesian Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, his performance was inspired. Coming back after a small break and playing so exceptionally is not easy. HS Prannoy proved his mettle and how he is here to stay in 2014. Soon, he became one of the best Indian male badminton players.

In 2015, Prannoy reached the semifinals of the India Open Grand Prix. At the India Super Series, he stunned World Number 2 Jan Ø. Jørgensen. The victory catapulted his fame by leaps and bounds.

In 2016, Prannoy Kumar won the Swiss Open. Perhaps the most stunning victory of Prannoy's career came in 2017. He won the US Open by defeating Parupalli Kashyap.

https://twitter.com/TheBridge_IN/status/1039445587144269825

The year 2017 was particularly special for Prannoy, as he defeated his idol Cheng Long at the Indonesian Open. Cheng Long was dominating the badminton tournament for many years, but Prannoy pulled out to the biggest upset of the year to grab the trophy.

“It wasn’t the hardest match to win. I’ve played a lot harder matches. Today I didn’t really feel that I was in a fight,” he told ESPN over the phone from Jakarta.

Prannoy HS Kumar Net Worth

Apart from his prize money and sponsorships, Prannoy also earns through various endorsements and appearances in brand campaigns. He is associated with brands like Yonex, ASICS, and Bajaj Electricals, among others.

Prannoy is also known for his philanthropic activities and has been actively involved in various social causes. He has supported initiatives like education for underprivileged children and disaster relief efforts.

H.S. Prannoy’s net worth is around 41-42 crore

Premier Badminton League: HS Prannoy

HS Prannoy married his longtime partner Swetha Thomas on August 28, 2022. Their wedding was held in an intimate and private ceremony in Thrissur, Kerala.

Interesting Facts about Prannoy HS

Image Source: timesofindia.com

• Prannoy Kumar has been supported by the GoSports Foundation since the year 2011.
• Prannoy is like most of the millennials and prefers to spend his free time watching TV shows and movies. His favorite sitcom is the legendary show Friends.
• Other than, of course, badminton, Prannoy's favorite sport is football. He is a huge fan of football star Lionel Messi and supports the club FC Barcelona.
• From his own sport, his favorite players are Chinese Olympic champion Chen Long and our very own Saina Nehwal.
• Prannoy never believed in his own talent as a kid. However, his father was the sturdy support that he needed. With the constant encouragement and support, he found his own belief, and eventually this self-belief helped him succeed.
• There are times in our lives when we start doubting ourselves; it is during such phases that we really need our loved ones. One thing is for sure though, our family and friends may help us, but eventually, we have to walk on the path.

Another inspiring fact about Prannoy is his determination. He didn't get bogged down by injuries. Considering the fact that he was injured right at the beginning of his career, the easier option would have been to give up. He didn't. That is exactly what makes him a true champion!

Prannoy HS Kumar Achievements

Youth Olympic Games

Asian Team Championships

South Asian Games

Asian Championships

Commonwealth Games

BWF World Tour

Men’s singles

Prannoy H S Kumar Social Media

Prannoy celebrating his birthday with family and friends

A beautiful picture with his mother.

Prannoy with his sister Priyanka and her daughter.

On a departing note, here is some motivation from Prannoy. Very well said!

“Sometimes we have to just stay calm, believe in ourselves, and trust the process because if you are true to yourself everything works out in the end.”

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FAQ

HS Prannoy is an Indian professional badminton player who competes in men’s singles events.

HS Prannoy started playing badminton at the age of six. He was encouraged to take up the sport by his parents, who were both badminton players.

As of 2026, HS Prannoy is ranked 35th in the men’s singles world rankings.

Yes, HS Prannoy has participated in the Olympics. He made his Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Summer Games, competing in the men’s singles badminton event, where he advanced through the group stage and reached the Round of 16.