Badminton

Legendary Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone will serve as a mentor to the 15-member Indian badminton squad at the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to commence on July 26. Padukone, who became the first Indian to win the prestigious All England Championship, retired in 1991, just before badminton made its Olympic debut at the 1992 Barcelona Games.Padukone's inclusion in the Indian contingent is particularly significant for two players: Lakshya Sen and P.V. Sindhu. Sen is a product of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA), while Sindhu announced Padukone as her mentor ahead of the Paris Games after relocating her training base from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. Sindhu is preparing for her third Olympic appearance.The Indian badminton squad will also be accompanied by a team of eight support staff, including coaches and physiotherapists. Pullela Gopichand, the national chief coach, will lead the coaching staff, which also includes RMV Gurusaidutt, Agus Santosa, Vimal Kumar, and Mathias Boe. Zeinia Samar and Kiran Challagundla will serve as the team's physiotherapists.Gopichand is responsible for overseeing the national badminton program, while Gurusaidutt has been training HS Prannoy. Boe is the coach of the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, as well as the women's doubles combination of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto. Vimal Kumar, a former India coach, is currently training Lakshya Sen, while Agus has been training Sindhu in Bengaluru.Kiran Challagundla has been a long-time physiotherapist for the Indian badminton team, while Zeinia Samar recently joined Sindhu's camp after her move to Bengaluru in pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic medal.In the previous Olympics, Gopichand opted not to travel to Tokyo due to restrictions on the number of officials accompanying athletes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at Paris, the Indian shuttlers will be aiming to continue their medal-winning streak, having secured a silver and two bronze medals over the past three editions of the Games.The badminton events at the Paris Olympics will commence on July 27 and conclude on August 5.

Saina Nehwal, India's first Olympic badminton medalist, has high hopes for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics. She believes that the men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have a 95% chance of winning a medal, including a strong possibility of gold.Nehwal praised the duo's growth, form, and consistency, stating that they are the country's top prospects in Paris. She also expressed confidence in the entire seven-member Indian squad, which includes H.S. Prannoy, P.V. Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa, Tanisha Crasto, and Lakshya Sen."I hope everyone gives a tough fight," Nehwal said. "All of them have shown good results in the last 3-4 months. There are definite chances that a medal will come (from badminton). At the moment, I can't say how many, but they will come for sure."Nehwal believes that Shetty and Rankireddy are so dominant that they will be favorites against most opponents, except for a few Chinese and Danish pairs. She emphasized that they must embrace the pressure and expectations that come with competing at the Olympics.Regarding Sindhu, Nehwal believes that she has a chance to win her third Olympic medal. Despite her recent form, Nehwal stressed the importance of preparation and work ethic. She pointed to Lee Chong Wei's three consecutive silver medals as an example of the possibility of multiple Olympic medals.Nehwal also commented on the evolution of the women's game, which has become more physical and dominated by longer rallies. She cited An Se Young as an example of this trend, praising her speed, endurance, and diving ability.In the men's singles, Nehwal believes that the field is wide open in Paris. She named Viktor Axelsen, Shi Yu Qi, and Lakshya Sen as potential medal contenders. She emphasized that on any given day, any of the top players can beat each other.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen emerged as the lone beacon of hope for India at the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament, securing a spot in the men's singles quarterfinals with a dominant victory over Japan's Kenta Nishimoto. Sen's impressive 21-9, 21-15 triumph in the pre-quarterfinal match showcased his exceptional skills and determination.However, the tournament proved to be a disappointment for India's women's doubles teams. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand bowed out after a hard-fought battle against Japan's Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara, losing 21-19, 19-21, 19-21 in the Round-of-16. Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa also suffered a setback, falling to South Korea's Ha Na Baek and So-Hee Lee 21-13, 19-21, 21-13.In the mixed doubles category, B Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy were unable to overcome the challenge of China's Siwei Zheng and Yaqiong Huang, losing 21-9, 21-11 in a lopsided contest.Priyansh Rajawat displayed commendable resilience in the men's singles, putting up a valiant fight against reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Despite losing 10-21, 17-21, Rajawat showcased his potential by pushing his formidable opponent to the limit in the second game.

India's star shuttler P.V. Sindhu suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the Indonesia Open on Wednesday, losing to Hsu Wen-chi of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling three-game encounter. The match marked Sindhu's first defeat to Wen-chi and her earliest exit from the BWF Super 1000 tournament.Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion, struggled to find her rhythm against the determined Taiwanese shuttler. Wen-chi took the first game 21-15, but Sindhu fought back to win the second 21-15. However, Wen-chi regained control in the decider, securing a 21-14 victory and ending Sindhu's hopes of a deep run in the tournament.The match lasted for an hour and 10 minutes, with Wen-chi showcasing her impressive defense and powerful smashes. Sindhu, known for her aggressive style, was unable to impose her game on her opponent.In other news from the Indonesia Open, the Indian women's doubles pair of Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda also suffered a setback. They lost to the sixth-seeded Korean duo of Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong in the round of 32, going down 12-21, 9-21.Sindhu's early exit from the Indonesia Open is a setback for the Indian badminton contingent. However, the tournament continues with several other Indian shuttlers still in contention, including Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in the men's doubles.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen made a strong start to the Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament, securing a straight-game victory over Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama in the men's singles first round. Sen dominated the match, taking just 40 minutes to dispatch Tsuneyama 21-12, 21-17.Sen's victory sets up a second-round clash with either seventh seed Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia or Japan's Kenta Nishimoto. The Indian shuttler has been in impressive form recently, reaching the semifinals of both the French Open and All England Championships, which earned him a spot in the Olympic qualification.However, it was a disappointing day for Kiran George in the men's singles event. Despite putting up a valiant fight, George fell to Hong Yang Weng of China in a thrilling three-game battle, losing 21-11, 10-21, 20-22.In the mixed doubles, the Indian pair of B Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy overcame a tough challenge from the American duo of Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai, winning 18-21, 21-16, 21-17. They will now face a formidable task in the next round, taking on either top seeds Si Wei Zheng and Ya Qiong Huang of China or the Indonesian combination of Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Lisa Ayu Kusumawati.Later in the day, the Indian women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Yu-Pei Cheng and Yu Hsing Sun of Chinese Taipei, while former world no.1 HS Prannoy will take on Priyanshu Rajawat in an all-Indian men's singles opening round contest.

India's top men's doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have stormed into the final of the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament in Bangkok. The duo cruised to a comfortable straight-game victory over Lu Ming-Che and Tang Kai-Wei of Chinese Taipei in the semifinals on Saturday.Satwik and Chirag, who won the Thailand Open title in 2019, needed just 35 minutes to dispatch their world No. 80 opponents 21-11, 21-12. The Indian pair dominated the match from start to finish, showcasing their superior skill and aggression.The victory marks the fourth final appearance for Satwik and Chirag in the BWF World Tour this season. They had previously finished runners-up at the Malaysia Super 1000 and India Super 750 before claiming the French Super 750 in March.In the final on Sunday, the world number three Indian duo will face the Chinese pair of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, who defeated Kim Gi Jung and Kim Sa Rang of South Korea in the other semifinal.Satwik and Chirag have had a mixed season so far, with some disappointing results in recent tournaments. However, their appearance in the Thailand Open final will provide a much-needed boost ahead of the Paris Olympics.The Indian pair's success in Thailand is a testament to their hard work and dedication. They have consistently performed at a high level and are now one of the top doubles teams in the world.

Indian badminton stars Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty continued their impressive run at the Thailand Open Super 500 on Thursday, advancing to the quarterfinals in their respective categories.Meiraba, a 21-year-old rising star, upset Denmark's Mads Christophersen 21-14, 22-20 in a hard-fought men's singles clash. The victory marked another milestone for Meiraba, who has been training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy. He will now face a formidable challenge in the quarterfinals against world champion and local hero Kunlavut Vitidsarn.In men's doubles, the world number 3 Indian pair of Satwik and Chirag dominated Xie Sao Nan and Zeng Wei Han of China 21-16, 21-11. The Asian Games gold medallists will next face Malaysia's Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap.However, it was a disappointing day for Ashmita Chaliha in women's singles. Despite a valiant effort, she narrowly lost to top-seeded Chinese Han Yue 15-21, 21-12, 12-21. In mixed doubles, Sathish Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath also bowed out of the competition, losing 10-21, 17-21 to Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari.The Indian shuttlers' success at the Thailand Open Super 500 is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Meiraba's victory over Christophersen is a significant achievement, while Satwik and Chirag continue to prove their dominance in men's doubles. The tournament provides valuable experience for the Indian players as they prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead the charge for India at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament, starting Tuesday in Bangkok. The top-seeded Indian pair, considered favorites for Olympic gold in Paris, will aim to regain their competitive edge after facing challenges in the Thomas Cup.Rankireddy and Shetty will face Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong in their opening match. The tournament serves as a crucial platform for Olympic-bound shuttlers to refine their skills and test new strategies.India's top singles player, HS Prannoy, will also seek to improve his form after battling health issues this season. Despite a confidence-boosting win over Indonesia's Anthony Ginting, Prannoy's loss to China's Shi Yuqi highlights the need for him to close out tight matches.Other Indian singles players in the fray include Kiran George and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran. In women's singles, Ashmita Chaliha, Malvika Bansod, and Aakarshi Kashyap will represent India in the absence of PV Sindhu.In women's doubles, the fourth-seeded Indian pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, who have qualified for the Paris Games, will begin their campaign in the second round.The Thailand Open Super 500 tournament provides a valuable opportunity for Indian shuttlers to fine-tune their preparations for the Paris Olympics and showcase their skills on the international stage.

Ashwini Ponnappa, a seasoned badminton player, faced skepticism after taking a break in 2022. Despite her continued training, many assumed she had retired. After a successful partnership with Jwala Gutta, Ashwini teamed up with N Sikki Reddy for six years, but they failed to secure a title.In December 2022, Ashwini and Tanisha Crasto, a rising star, decided to join forces. For Ashwini, it was a final chance at glory, while for Tanisha, it was an opportunity to learn from an experienced player.Their initial tournaments were disappointing, but they persevered. In June 2023, they won the Nantes International Challenge, marking a turning point. They reached four more finals, winning two and becoming India's No. 2 women's pair.Their success was fueled by Tanisha's explosiveness and Ashwini's power. They also upset top 10 pairs and overtook Treesa Jolly and P Gayatri Gopichand as India's No. 1.On Tuesday, they qualified for the Paris Olympics, Ashwini's third and Tanisha's first. Their journey has been marked by small wins that have culminated in a major achievement.Ashwini credits their success to their ability to adapt their game style during matches. They also acknowledge areas for improvement, such as becoming more systematic in their attack.Ashwini is enjoying this stage of her career, finding motivation and happiness in her work. The pair will continue to train and compete in preparation for the Olympics.