2024 Paris Olympics: 3 players who can challenge HS Prannoy on his journey to the podium ft. Kodai Naraoka

HS Prannoy will enter the Paris Olympics as India's brightest hope for a medal finish in the badminton men's singles event. However, the shuttler’s road to that elusive metal will be marked by rocky terrain and quite a few obstacles.

For Prannoy, this will mark his debut at the marquee event, and he goes into the tournament very much the dark horse. While not an upfront favorite for a podium finish, the Indian can never quite be counted out of the competition.

The 32-year-old has been nicknamed the ‘Giant Killer’ since the early days of his career, for his uncanny ability to take down the top-ranked players at the world's biggest stages. At the 2023 World Championships, an unseeded Prannoy had gotten the better of then World No.1 Viktor Axelsen on the Dane's homeground, beating him in the quarterfinals.

Now, as the Indian looks for an encore of that performance at the Paris Olympics, here are the top three players who will prove to be an obstacle for him as he guns for the podium.

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#3 Jonatan Christie

Indonesia Open 2024 - Day 2

The first threat to HS Prannoy's hope of a medal finish at the Paris Olympics will be Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie. The two are likely to come together in the round of 16 matches that take place immediately after the group stage matches.

26-year-old Christie comes into the Games of the back of a stellar season so far. His 2024 has seen the Indonesian lay claim to the All England trophy as well as the Asia Championships gold. He was also a part of the squad that took silver at the Thomas Cup earlier this year.

In terms of head-to-head statistics, HS Prannoy hasn't fared too well against the Indonesian, having won only three of their nine clashes. Additionally, Christie has also won the duo's three most recent clashes. However, the two haven't faced each other for over two years now, giving Prannoy a good chance to surprise his long-time foe at the Paris Olympics.

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#2 Chou Tien Chen

Indonesia Open 2024 - Day 2

Another obstacle that Prannoy might have to face at the Paris Olympics in his bid for a podium finish will be Chou Tien Chen. The 34-year-old Taiwanese has amassed quite a medal collection over the years, including a bronze at the 2022 World Championships, the 2024 Thomas Cup, as well as the 2019 Asian Championships.

Prannoy and his Taiwanese counterpart have faced each other 13 times over their careers, with the latter having won seven of those encounters. However, in their most recent two encounters, it was the Indian who emerged victorious, needing only two games both times.

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#1 Kodai Naraoka

Indonesia Open 2024 - Day 2

Yet another player that could bring HS Prannoy's journey at the Paris Olympics to an abrupt halt is Japan's Kodai Naraoka. If Chou Tien Chen fails to make it through to the quarterfinals, the Indian will have to battle with the World No.5 in order to make it through to the final four.

Naraoka is perhaps one of the most skillful players on the men's singles circuit right now, and Prannoy has always had a tough time when it comes to him. The Japanese was the 2023 World Championships silver-medalist, having beaten current World No.1 Shi Yu Qui and Dane Anders Antonsen on his way there.

The Indian shuttler has clashed swords with Naraoka a total of seven times on the BWF circuit, but has managed to outsmart the Japanese only once. The one time that Prannoy beat the World No.5 was at the 2023 Indonesia Open, where he needed only two games to dispose of the 23-year-old.