You never know what an athlete is doing behind the scenes. India’s star shuttler HS Prannoy has been through hell, with a lower back injury he suffered just before these Games. Yet, on Friday, he finished with a historic bronze medal, after losing 16-21, 9-21 to China’s World No. 1 Li Shifeng amidst vociferous chants of “Li Shifeng jaiyou [cheers]” by the Chinese fans who packed the Binjiang Gymnasium.

“This has been one of the toughest two weeks for me in the last two-three years. I’ve never had such pain, that too while playing a tournament,” Prannoy said after winning India’s first men’s singles badminton medal at the Asiad since the late Syed Modi achieved a bronze in 1982.