Badminton

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.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have once again proven their dominance in badminton, capturing the French Open title for the second time. The Indian duo outplayed Chinese Taipei's Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in straight games (21-11, 21-17) in the men's doubles final in Paris on Sunday.This victory marks the Indian pair's first crown of the season and their seventh BWF World Tour title (Super 300 events and above). They have not dropped a single game throughout the tournament, showcasing their exceptional form.The Indian duo's triumph in Paris is particularly significant as it comes at the same venue that will host the 2024 Olympic Games. Chief coach Pullela Gopichand has expressed confidence that Satwik and Chirag are strong contenders for the Olympic gold medal."It feels really sweet. Paris has always been special for us, and we have always played good badminton here," said Chirag. "It is a test venue for the Olympics, but that is still some months away."Satwik and Chirag's victory was a testament to their sharp attack and solid defense. They forced their opponents into errors and controlled the rallies from the start. Their traditional celebration, with Satwik lifting Chirag in his lap and dancing with his racquet, added to the joyous atmosphere."We wanted to give our 100 percent and enjoy," said Satwik. "Even Mathias (Boe) kept telling us to have fun, and we got back our rhythm and the momentum changed."The Indian duo's success in Paris is a continuation of their impressive performances in recent months. They finished runners-up at the Malaysia Super 1000, India Super 750, and China Masters Super 750. Their victory in Paris is a testament to their consistency and determination.

India's top-ranked men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have reached the final of the French Open Super 750 tournament after a dominant performance against South Korea's Seo Seung Jae and Kang Min Hyuk. This marks their third consecutive final appearance of the year and their third in this tournament.In a thrilling semifinal encounter, Rankireddy and Shetty showcased their exceptional skills, winning 21-13, 21-16 in straight games. The Indian duo controlled the pace of the match, dictating the rallies and forcing their opponents into errors.However, India's campaign in the tournament suffered a setback as Lakshya Sen's hopes of reaching the final were dashed by reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Kunlavut emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle, winning 20-22, 21-13, 21-11 in an hour and 18 minutes.In the men's doubles final, Rankireddy and Shetty will face Chinese Taipei's Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan, who defeated Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in their semifinal. The Indian pair will be aiming to avenge their loss to the same Korean duo in the India Open final earlier this year.Rankireddy and Shetty's impressive run in the French Open is a testament to their consistent form and world-class abilities. They have established themselves as one of the most formidable pairs in the world and will be determined to add another title to their growing collection.

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.

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a triumphant start to the French Open Super 750 tournament in Paris, securing a hard-fought victory over Malaysian duo Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi. The world no. 1 Indian pair, who won the title in 2022, displayed their dominance in the opening round, outplaying their world no. 12 opponents 21-13, 24-22 in a thrilling 47-minute encounter.Satwik and Chirag, who have finished second in their last three tournaments, will face another Malaysian pair, Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee, in the next round.In other Indian action, World Championships bronze medalist Lakshya Sen overcame a slow start to defeat Japan's Kanta Tsuneyama 15-21, 21-15, 21-3 in his opening match. The unseeded Indian will now face third seed Li Shen Feng in the pre-quarterfinals.Commonwealth Games bronze medalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also advanced to the second round in women's doubles, defeating Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto in an all-Indian clash. The two pairs are vying for qualification for the Paris Olympics, with Tanisha-Ashwini ranked 11th and Treesa-Gayatri at 14th in the Olympic Games qualification ranking.Treesa and Gayatri have been in impressive form, playing a crucial role in the Indian women's team's historic victory at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia last month.However, it was a disappointing day for Priyanshu Rajawat, who suffered a 8-21, 15-21 defeat to reigning Olympic champion and top seed Victor Axelsen.

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.