India’s HS Prannoy began his campaign at the BWF World Championships 2025 in Madrid on a winning note, overcoming Finland’s Joakim Oldorff 21-18, 21-15 to reach the round of 32.
The 32-year-old, India’s most experienced men’s singles player on the circuit, produced a controlled performance that never looked spectacular but was efficient enough to avoid early drama. For Prannoy, this was an important start. His last outing at the World Championships in 2023 had brought him a career milestone: a bronze medal in Copenhagen, ending India’s 38-year wait for a men’s singles medal at the event. But the years since have been marked by inconsistency, injury niggles, and the constant challenge of competing against a younger, sharper field. Madrid offers him another chance to prove that he still belongs among the very best.
Prannoy’s first-round opponent was no pushover. Joakim Oldorff, ranked 47 in the world, arrived in Madrid with a growing reputation. A bronze medallist at the 2024 European Championships, the 22-year-old Finn has made steady progress on the European circuit and is seen as part of the next generation of challengers to Asia’s traditional dominance in badminton.
Oldorff started strongly, using sharp smashes and early interceptions at the net to trouble Prannoy. The Indian trailed 7-10 and then 11-13 at the mid-game interval, as his length and rhythm were slightly off. But what has defined Prannoy over the years is his ability to soak in pressure and then slowly turn the tide. By targeting Oldorff’s backhand and mixing his pace, he forced a string of errors that shifted the momentum. At 18-19, Oldorff threatened to force a decisive push, but Prannoy kept his composure.
With three well-constructed points two forced errors and a measured smash he closed out the game 21-18. It was a reminder of the grit that has often pulled him through tight situations.
If the first game required patience, the second displayed Prannoy’s control. From 7-all, he steadily built a lead and never relinquished it. His defence, a hallmark of his game, absorbed Oldorff’s attacking play, while his own smashes and drops began finding accuracy. At the mid-game interval, Prannoy led 11-8 and continued to widen the gap. Oldorff tried a late push, but by then the Indian had settled into his rhythm. The game closed at 21-15, sealing a straight-games win in 46 minutes.
The victory did not demand Prannoy’s absolute best, but it did demand focus. Matches like these, against hungry and unseeded opponents, have often been tricky for Indian shuttlers in the past. On this occasion, Prannoy avoided unnecessary complications, an encouraging sign as the level of opposition rises.
The Antonsen Challenge Awaits
Prannoy’s next match could be one of the blockbusters of the early rounds. If the draw progresses as expected, he will face Anders Antonsen, the world No. 2 and one of the clear favourites for the title. Antonsen, a former World Championships silver medallist and one of Denmark’s most consistent performers, will represent a steep step up in challenge. For Prannoy, this match will be an early test of where he stands. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a big-match player his wins over top-ranked opponents like Viktor Axelsen, Kento Momota, and Anthony Ginting are well-documented. But in recent months, his results have been inconsistent, with early exits in several World Tour events.
Facing Antonsen will demand his very best physical sharpness, tactical clarity, and the ability to sustain intensity over long rallies.
When Prannoy stood on the podium in Copenhagen in 2023 with a World Championships bronze, it felt like a reward for years of perseverance. Injuries had derailed much of his prime, and he often played in the shadow of compatriots like Kidambi Srikanth. Yet, he was the one who finally broke India’s drought in men’s singles. Since then, however, he has struggled to build on that momentum. While younger Indian shuttlers like Lakshya Sen have gained traction, Prannoy has battled to string together consistent results. This season has seen flashes of form, but not the kind of sustained run that marks a top-tier contender.
That is why this World Championships carries added weight for him. For a player in the later stage of his career, opportunities to add medals on the biggest stage are limited. A strong performance in Madrid could be the statement he needs to remind the world of his calibre.
Against Oldorff, Prannoy showed glimpses of the steadiness that earned him his medal two years ago. He was patient in rallies, composed in closing out tight situations, and ruthless once he found his rhythm. He will, however, need to avoid slow starts top players like Antonsen will not allow him the luxury of working his way back into games. Still, the opening-round win is a solid platform. It provides confidence, rhythm, and valuable court time without stretching him into a physically draining battle.
For Indian men’s singles, the last couple of years have been turbulent. Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth have both struggled with consistency, while Prannoy himself has had dips in form. Yet, Prannoy remains India’s most reliable big-stage performer in recent memory. As he heads into the round of 32, the draw gets tougher, and the margin for error narrows. But if there is one quality Prannoy has shown time and again, it is resilience. Whether battling injuries or taking down higher-ranked opponents, he has built his career on fighting through adversity.
Madrid could well be another chapter in that story. For now, HS Prannoy is safely through to the round of 32 at the BWF World Championships 2025 a steady first step in what promises to be a demanding campaign.
