At the top of the pile in rankings currently is the most consistent of them all – HS Prannoy. At 30, he’s found a certain rhythm and stability while staying away from injuries – or keeping them manageable. His versatile game can take on any big name, and he thinks on his feet. A very important missing piece from his arsenal is the ability to go the distance, over 5 playing days, something that will test him in the qualification race. But in his journey to get to No. 9, Prannoy has had the answers to all the posers; it’s all about switching the gears and believing he can win titles, and collect the commensurate ranking points.

Kidambi Srikanth, also 30, is banking on a new coach to help change his fortunes. Consistency has never been his strongest suit. But no one can deny he has the game to be an Olympic contender. Errors at crucial moments are his dementors, when he plays the high risk, high reward game – which is at all times. The new coach Wiempie Mahardi, will need to bring solidity into Srikanth’s extravagant attack if he has to get anywhere in contention.

K Srikanth reacts after match.. (File)

Lakshya Sen can boast of his ability to beat the big names when fit. In his breakout season, Sen was thought of as a certainty for the Paris Games, and he still remains the best bet to go the medal distance. But he has an enormous way to go in sorting out his health and fitness issues. Trial and error is his method, he told Sportstar recently. The Olympic qualification period though is upon him and he might not get the cushioning of time to experiment much. Taking care of his fitness and not allowing the qualification period to rush him into anything rash, will be the most important factor. Sen needs to identify his process and stick to it.

Three in Top 25, and six in Top 50 is a reasonably good critical mass to target Top 16. For the next three in line are Priyanshu Rajawat, Mithun Manjunath and Sameer Verma.

Ambition would be a fine thing to course through veins given they have never been a part of this Olympic race before. Especially for the injury ravaged Verma who won the Slovenia International Challenge recently. A fit Verma is capable of going deep into tournaments, but his frequent breakdowns have meant he never might have harboured thoughts of qualifying realistically for the Olympics. Fitness remains the Big IF going forward.

All England Open Badminton Championships – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Britain – March 14, 2023 India’s Lakshya Sen reacts during his round of 32 men’s singles match against Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Priyanshu Rajawat won a Super 300 at Orleans recently, but will need to play and win consistently in the top league to get into contention. A talented stroke maker, Rajawat will have to step up from the level he’s operating at currently.

Mithun Manjunath won the Nationals going past some big domestic names but must have realised the international circuit is a wicked notch higher. He’s on a program of leaning out and moving faster on the court. The results have taken time in coming, but he needs the big jump up to entertain thoughts of qualification.

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India has never sent two men’s singles players to the Olympics and this is as good an ambition as any to aspire for. At the same time, the playing formbook has been particularly wretched, making it a steep task with few results to back that ambition.

India’s H. S. Prannoy plays a shot against Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo during their men’s singles match at the Malaysia Open badminton tournament at the Bukit Jalil Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Kien Huo)

Perhaps the biggest dilemma to contend with is how many tournaments to play – one can easily lose the plot by overplaying in qualification period and wearying oneself out in the mad pursuit of points. It’s where canny coaches will make a difference. And this is as much a test of coaches as of the shuttlers — planning a schedule that finds the right balance in playing and points. Only the most astute will be able to qualify while keeping their sights on the Olympics, as the eventual target to perform. That implies doing just enough to qualify and then amping up effort for the Games.

Unfortunately, for Srikanth and Sen, their rankings have dipped, but trust the duo to give it their everything to make up for missing out on Tokyo.

Aside from that qualification treadmill, 2023 has targets of its own – the World Championship and the Asian Games, two standalones where medalling is prestigious, and qualifying for which will be a decent indicator of the Indian hierarchy.

Patchy form played out during the Sudirman cup, but Prannoy and Srikanth will hope it was a temporary blip as they chase Olympic qualification.