Badminton

Tanvi Sharma, a 15-year-old badminton prodigy from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, is making waves in the Indian badminton scene. Inspired by the legendary P.V. Sindhu, Tanvi has emerged as a rising star, becoming the youngest member of India's women's squad for the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup in Chengdu, China.Her journey began with her elder sister, Radhika, who played badminton. Their mother, Meera, a former volleyball player, took up badminton coaching to guide her daughters. Tanvi quickly made a mark, winning the U-15 and U-17 national championships before finishing runner-up at the U-19 final in 2022.In 2022, Tanvi won the silver medal in the Asian U-15 Junior Championships in China and the title in Kotak India International. She ended the year with a runner-up finish at the Senior Nationals in Guwahati.Tanvi's most memorable experience came at the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) in Malaysia, where she observed Sindhu and the Indian team claim their first-ever gold. "It was a big moment in my life," she said. "I learnt so much just by observing the seniors, especially Sindhu didi."Despite missing out on playing in the BATC due to an injury, Tanvi's confidence soared after witnessing the team's triumph. She also saw her roommate, 17-year-old Anmol Kharb, rise to the occasion and play a crucial role in India's victory.Tanvi's injury delayed her plans to embark on the Tour, but she has been selected for the Uber Cup. "I am really excited to be part of the Indian team again," she said. "It will be a very good exposure for me."Tanvi's goal is to emulate Sindhu's aggressive style of play. She plans to focus on international series, international challengers, and the world junior championships this year.Despite the high cost of training, Tanvi's determination remains unwavering. She plans to move to the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati in the future to further her development.

HS Prannoy and PV Sindhu, two of India's top badminton players, advanced to the second round of the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, on Wednesday. Prannoy, ranked ninth in the world, displayed remarkable resilience in a three-game victory over China's Lu Guang Zu, while Sindhu, a double Olympic medalist, overcame a tough challenge from Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei.Prannoy, who has been battling gut issues this season, faced an uphill battle against Lu, who had won all three of their previous encounters. However, the Indian showed great determination, rallying from a 6-1 deficit in the second game and saving two match points in the third game to secure a 17-21, 23-21, 23-21 victory.Sindhu, who is seeking to regain her form ahead of the Paris Olympics, also faced a stern test against Goh. The Indian lost the first game but fought back to win the next two, 21-14, 21-19. Sindhu will next face China's Han Yue, against whom she has a perfect 5-0 record.However, it was a disappointing day for other Indian shuttlers. Lakshya Sen, who is also bound for the Olympics, lost to top seed Shi Yu Qi of China, while Kidambi Srikanth suffered a defeat against Indonesia's Anthony Ginting. Priyanshu Rajawat and the doubles pair of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila also exited the tournament in the first round.Prannoy's victory over Lu was particularly significant, as it marked his first win over the Chinese player. The Indian will now face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the second round.Sindhu's win over Goh was also important, as it gave her a much-needed confidence boost. The Indian will be hoping to continue her winning ways against Han Yue and secure a place in the quarterfinals.

PV Sindhu, India's double Olympic medalist, advanced to the second round of the women's singles competition at the All England Championships on Tuesday. However, HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth faced setbacks in the opening round of men's singles.Sindhu, ranked 11th in the world, dominated the first game against German opponent Li Yvonne Li, winning 21-10. However, Li retired in the second game, allowing Sindhu to progress to the next round. The Indian is likely to face top seed An Se Young of Korea, who has been a formidable opponent, having defeated Sindhu in all six of their previous encounters.In men's singles, Prannoy, ranked 8th in the world, squandered an early lead to lose 21-14, 13-21, 13-21 to Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei. This marked Prannoy's second consecutive first-round exit after his loss at the French Open last week.Srikanth, who is aiming to qualify for the Paris Olympics, suffered a disappointing defeat against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, losing 9-21, 9-21. This leaves Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat as the only Indian contenders in men's singles.Aakarshi Kashyap also bowed out in the opening round, losing 16-21, 11-21 to Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Indonesia's Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti later in the day.

Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has advanced to the second round of the women's singles competition at the prestigious All England Championships. Her German opponent, Yvonne Li, retired after the completion of the first game on Tuesday.Sindhu, the former world champion and current world No. 11, dominated the first game, winning 21-10. However, Li, ranked 26th in the world, decided to withdraw from the match due to an undisclosed reason.The 28-year-old from Hyderabad will now face top seed An Se Young of Korea in the second round. An has been a formidable opponent for Sindhu, having defeated her in all six of their previous encounters.An, who is recovering from a right knee injury, recently secured her second title of the season at the French Open last Sunday.In the first game against Li, Sindhu and her opponent were initially neck-and-neck, tied at 4-4. However, Sindhu quickly pulled away, establishing an 11-7 lead at the break. She continued to extend her advantage, eventually winning the game when Li's flick serve landed in the net.Sindhu's victory marks a positive start to her campaign at the All England Championships. She will be hoping to overcome her past struggles against An and advance to the later stages of the tournament.

Paris has been a magical venue for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the world's top-ranked badminton pair. They have reached the final of a BWF Super 750 or higher event for the first time in the French capital, and have won two out of three French Open finals. Their latest triumph came at the venue that will host badminton in the upcoming Olympics, making it even more special."It feels really sweet," said Shetty. "Paris has always been special for us. We have always played good badminton here. It has been a second home for us."While they are thrilled with their victory, Rankireddy and Shetty remain focused on the Olympics, which are still six months away. They have a busy schedule ahead, including the All England Open starting on Tuesday.In Birmingham, they will face a tough opening round against Indonesian legends Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan. With the Olympic qualification cutoff on April 28, all top pairs will be eager to perform well at this tournament, which offers the most points.Indian fans will be eagerly following the action, as the All England Open has a rich history and legacy. Rankireddy and Shetty have a chance to add to India's sparse success at the tournament, which includes singles triumphs by Prakash Padukone (1980) and Pullela Gopichand (2001).PV Sindhu is also on a comeback trail, and the All England Open provides an excellent opportunity for her to raise her game. Last season was challenging for her, but she has shown signs of improvement since moving to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.At the Badminton Asia Team Championships, she defeated a top 10 player, China's Han Yue, and guided India to an unprecedented gold. Last week, she beat Canada's Michelle Li and American Beiwen Zhang to reach her first quarter-final since October.In the last eight, she played well against reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei, taking a game off her. Her performance showed that her mentor, Prakash Padukone, and new coach, Agus Dwi Santoso, are helping her regain her form.HS Prannoy is all but assured of Olympic qualification, but Lakshya Sen is not. He is joint 15th in the Race to Paris rankings, but above Kidambi Srikanth and Priyanshu Rajawat. The one finishing in the top 16 by April 28 will get a shot at an Olympic medal.The real fight for qualification is between Tanisha Crasto-Ashwini Ponnappa and Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly. Tanisha and Ashwini have broken through with superb performances after joining hands early last year, reaching five finals and winning three in 2023. They are currently ranked 11th, while Treesa and Gayatri are joint 14th. The one ranked higher will earn the Olympic spot.

The All England Championships, a prestigious badminton tournament, will commence on Tuesday, with India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty aiming to continue their impressive form. The duo, fresh off their French Open triumph, will face a formidable challenge in the opening round against Indonesian veterans Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.P V Sindhu, India's badminton icon, will also face a stern test. She is set to encounter world no. 1 An Se Young in the second round, provided she overcomes Yvonne Li in the first. Sindhu's recent performances, including a quarterfinal finish at the French Open, indicate that she has recovered from her knee injury.Lakshya Sen, who boosted his Olympic qualification hopes with a semifinal finish in Paris, will face Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong. A potential clash with fourth-seeded Anders Antonsen awaits him in the second round.HS Prannoy, who reached the India Open semifinals but exited the French Open early, will hope to make a deep run. He will open against Chinese Taipei's Su Li Yang. Kidambi Srikanth, on the other hand, faces a daunting task against world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen in the first round.In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Indonesian pair Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti. Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa will take on Hong Kong's Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam. Both Indian pairs are vying for a spot at the Paris Olympics.The All England Championships, once an exclusive event, has now become one of four Super 1000 tournaments on the international calendar. However, it remains an iconic tournament in India, with Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand being the only Indian champions. Saina Nehwal and Lakshya Sen have come close, finishing as runners-up.

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued their impressive run in the French Open Super 750 tournament, securing a quarterfinal berth with a dominant victory over Malaysian duo Man Wei Chong and Kai Woo Tee. The world No. 1 doubles pair showcased their exceptional skills, dispatching their opponents 21-13, 21-12 in a mere 32 minutes.Satwik and Chirag's triumph marks their third consecutive runner-up finish in major tournaments this season, following their impressive performances at the China Open, Malaysia Open Super 1000, and India Open Super 750. Their consistent success has solidified their position as the top-ranked doubles pair globally.Meanwhile, PV Sindhu, returning from a knee injury, displayed her resilience and determination in the women's singles competition. The two-time Olympic medalist overcame a first-game setback to defeat world No. 10 Zhang 13-21, 21-10, 21-14, securing her first quarterfinal appearance of the season. Sindhu will face second seed Chen Yu Fei of China in the next round.In the women's doubles category, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand caused an upset by defeating seventh-seeded Japanese duo Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota 21-18, 21-13. The Indian pair will now face top seeds Qing Chen Chen and Yi Fan Jia of China in the quarterfinals.The French Open Super 750 tournament has witnessed several thrilling matches and impressive performances from Indian shuttlers. Satwik and Chirag's dominance, Sindhu's return to form, and Jolly and Gopichand's upset victory have raised hopes for further success in the upcoming rounds.

Former world champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will embark on their quest for a maiden French Open title at the USD 850,000 Super 750 tournament starting Tuesday. The Indian duo, ranked No. 1 in the world, have been tantalizingly close to victory in recent tournaments, finishing as runners-up at the China Masters Super 750, Malaysia Open Super 1000, and India Open Super 750 events.The French Open will provide an opportunity for the Indian shuttlers to familiarize themselves with the conditions at the Adidas arena at Porte de la Chapelle, which will host the badminton competitions at the Paris Olympics. Rankireddy and Shetty, who won the French Open in 2022, will be the favorites to reach the weekend once again.Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu will also be in action, making her return to the circuit after four months. Sindhu, ranked No. 11 in the world, will face Canada's Michelle Li in her opening match. A win could set up a clash with three-time former world champion Carolina Marin of Spain, their first meeting since their ill-tempered match at the Denmark Open semi-final.In men's singles, world No. 7 HS Prannoy will look to build on his semifinal appearance at the India Open. He will face China's Lu Guang Zu in his opening match. Lakshya Sen, who has slipped to world No. 19, will also be in action, taking on Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama. Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth will face a tough challenge against Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien Chen, while young Priyanshu Rajawat will have an opportunity to create an upset against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen.In a crucial turn of fate, two Indian women pairs -- Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa -- who are vying for an Olympic berth, will face off in the opening round.