Syed Modi badminton: Prannoy leads men’s challenge, Sindhu absent
Hindustan TimesBeing the Olympic qualifying year, the race to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Games is intensifying among India’s elite shuttlers with the spotlight on HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen and K Srikanth. Despite his quarterfinal loss in the China Masters Super 750 tournament last week, 31-year-old Prannoy, given top billing, eyes a strong finish in Lucknow Badminton World Federation guidelines dictate that only two men’s singles players will make the cut. The Syed Modi International sets the stage for a series of back-to-back BWF Super 100 events in Guwahati and Odisha in the first fortnight of December. Despite his quarterfinal loss in the China Masters Super 750 tournament last week, 31-year-old Prannoy, given top billing, eyes a strong finish in Lucknow to boost his chances of securing an Olympics berth — a dream he pursues after missing out on the last three editions. 17 Lakshya Sen and former champion K Srikanth, despite their early exit in China, will aim for a strong showing at the Syed Modi International to accumulate valuable BWF points.