Even as his fellow lead players all set to leave for Guwahati for the Senior badminton Nationals (all the top players get to play from the pre-quarterfinals stage directly), former national champion, H.S. Prannoy, is battling a health issue which is keeping him away from the competitive circuit.
Prannoy, who had a career-best World ranking of No. 8 two years ago, is flying to the United States of America next week for medical treatment to the Gastroesophageal reflux issue, which leads to frequent burning sensation in the chest and breathing problems.
“It is disappointing certainly to be away from the circuit but again nothing is in my hands except hoping for the best,” Prannoy said, after a long grinding stint at Gopi Academy here.
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“There have been issues in my stomach. But, I started training since one week for the first time after the PBL,” Prannoy told Sportstar .
“I have been running around for the medical tests for quite some time now. It is pretty complicated. I was trying many medication but nothing seems to be working out. So, I decided to go to the USA,” the World No. 19 said.
“When I was in discomfort for the first time during the last year’s World Championship, I thought it was not that serious. Even the doctors felt so then,” Prannoy recalled.
“And, later on, I have seen many doctors. All the medical tests were over. I am going abroad now only for treatment,” he said.
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But, true to his character, Prannoy was giving off his best even as the grimace was there too quite frequently as he went for the big smashes or diving returns on the court. And like a true champion, he was often cracking jokes with his good friends Kidambi Srikanth, Parupalli Kashyap and B. Sai Praneeth.
“Naturally because of this problem, I have a restricted diet, mostly on liquids. Not able to eat much as whatever I consume, it is coming out. It is very frustrating and tough phase indeed,” said a thoughtful Prannoy.
But, he has something to cheer about. Go Sports Foundation is taking care of all the medical expenses for the last few months and I am grateful to them, says the gritty shuttler before signing off.
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