Badminton

Keerthana Sai Nalla, a 26-year-old Indian badminton enthusiast, has altered her plans to witness the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite securing a new job in Germany and wanting to return home before starting it, her passion for badminton and the allure of watching PV Sindhu's historic Olympic quest have compelled her to extend her stay in Paris.Nalla's love for badminton has been a constant throughout her life, despite her family's frequent relocations due to her father's military service. She has been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to witness the sport live at the Olympics, particularly the performances of the Indian men's doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.Sindhu, a double Olympic medalist and Nalla's all-time favorite sportsperson, is aiming for a record third Olympic medal, a feat no Indian has ever achieved. Nalla is determined to witness Sindhu's journey and has purchased tickets for the badminton matches."This is my best chance to watch Sindhu in action at the Olympics, so I am going to be around till the badminton games are done," said Nalla, who attended the Games live at Arena Porte de La Chapelle in Paris on Sunday.The Indian pair of Satwik and Chirag's victory over France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in straight games further solidified Nalla's decision to stay back. "Badminton is my highlight at the Olympics, I really love that game," she added.Nalla is actively monitoring the Paris 2024 official ticket resale website for tickets to the women's singles semi-finals, where she expects Sindhu to reach. Her unwavering passion for badminton and the opportunity to witness history unfold have made her sacrifice her original plans and embrace the unforgettable experience of the Paris Olympics.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has secured a place in the pre-quarters of the ongoing Paris Olympics after defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in the men's singles Group L match. Sen's victory came in straight sets, 21-18, 21-12, in a match that lasted 50 minutes at the La Chapelle Arena.Sen dominated the match from the start, winning the first game 8-2. He continued his momentum in the second game, capitalizing on Christie's errors to close out the match. With this win, Sen topped the men's singles Group L and could potentially face HS Prannoy in the upcoming Round of 16 match.Sen's performance has been particularly impressive, with one of his backhand shots going viral on social media. Internet users have hailed the shot as "mad" and "god-like," inspiring budding badminton champions.Earlier in the tournament, Sen defeated Julien Carraggi of Belgium in straight sets, 21-19, 21-14. He also had a dominating win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon, but the result was later deleted after Cordon withdrew from the Olympics due to an injury.Sen's success in the Paris Olympics is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has emerged as one of India's top badminton players and is expected to continue his winning streak in the upcoming matches.

Lakshya Sen's stunning victory over Jonatan Christie at the Paris Olympics has sent shockwaves through the badminton world. The Indian shuttler, ranked 22nd in the world, upset the third-seeded Indonesian, who is considered a favorite for the men's singles gold medal.Sen's triumph marks a significant milestone in his career, as he had previously lost four consecutive matches to Christie. The Indonesian has been in dominant form this year, winning the Asian and All England championships. However, Sen's determination and tactical brilliance proved too much for Christie on Wednesday.In the first game, Christie took an early lead but Sen fought back to level the score at 8-all. The Indian continued to attack the net and exploit Christie's errors, eventually winning the game 21-18.The second game was even more one-sided, as Sen gained confidence from his first-game victory. He built a solid lead at the mid-game interval and never looked back, winning 21-12.Sen's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently performed well on the big stage, including winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022. His victory over Christie is a major boost for India's hopes of winning a badminton medal at the Paris Olympics.Meanwhile, PV Sindhu also advanced to the women's singles Round of 16 with a comfortable victory over Kristin Kuuba of Estonia. The double Olympic medalist won in just 34 minutes, barely breaking a sweat.Sindhu will face a tougher test in the next round when she takes on Chinese sixth seed He Bing Jiao. The two players have a close head-to-head record, with Sindhu winning the most recent encounter in the bronze medal playoff at the Tokyo Olympics.

Indian sports history was made on Day 4 of the Paris Olympics 2024 as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty became the first Indian badminton men's doubles pair to qualify for the quarterfinals. The world number three duo secured their spot with one group match remaining after their scheduled opponents, Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Seidel of Germany, withdrew due to injury.Meanwhile, ace shooter Manu Bhaker is poised to create her own Olympic legacy. Teaming up with Sarabjot Singh, Bhaker will compete in the bronze medal match of the 10m air pistol mixed team competition on Tuesday. A victory would mark an unprecedented second medal in shooting for India at the Games.India's badminton contingent will continue their group stage campaign with Satwik and Chirag facing Alfian Fajar and Muhammad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia in the men's doubles. Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto will also be in action, seeking their first win against Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu of Australia in the women's doubles.In hockey, Harmanpreet Singh will lead India in their men's Pool B match against Ireland, aiming to restore parity after yesterday's draw against Argentina. Ankita Bhakat, Bhajan Kaur, and Dhiraj Bommadevara will represent India in archery, while boxers Amit Panghal, Jaismine Lamboria, and Preeti Pawar will take to the ring.Other notable events on Day 4 include Prithviraj Tondaiman and Shreyasi Singh competing in the trap shooting qualification, Balraj Panwar in the men's single sculls quarterfinals, and rowers Arvind Singh and Arjun Lal Jat in the men's lightweight double sculls semifinals.

Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen has made a strong start to his Paris Olympics campaign, securing a straight-sets victory over Belgium's Julien Carraggi in the Group L men's singles match. The 43-minute encounter at the La Chapelle Arena saw Sen overcome a four-point deficit in the first game and dominate the second, winning 21-19, 21-14.Sen's victory comes after a setback on Sunday when his win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon was "deleted" due to Cordon's withdrawal from the Olympics due to a left elbow injury. As per BWF regulations, the result of the match was removed, and Sen's ranking will be determined based on his remaining two Group L matches.In the women's doubles, India's hopes suffered a blow as the pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa were defeated by the world number four Japanese duo of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. The Indian pair lost 11-21, 12-21 in a one-sided Group C clash.Despite the setback in women's doubles, Sen's victory provides a boost to India's badminton campaign. The 22-year-old has shown impressive form, demonstrating his ability to overcome challenges and secure crucial wins. As he prepares for his remaining Group L matches, Sen will be aiming to continue his winning streak and secure a place in the knockout stages.

India's Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto's Olympic hopes suffered a major setback as they succumbed to a second consecutive defeat in the women's doubles badminton competition at the Paris Olympics. The Indian duo fell 11-21, 12-21 to the world number four Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in a 48-minute Group C encounter.Ponnappa and Crasto, ranked 19th in the world, had earlier lost their opening match against South Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong. The two top-ranked pairs from each group qualify for the quarterfinals, leaving the Indians facing an uphill battle to advance."A bit disappointed because this was the only shot we had for a chance to get to the quarters," Ponnappa said after the match. "Not the way we wanted to play but they were very strong. I wish we had given them a better fight. We have one more match and hope we can win that."The Japanese duo dominated the match from the outset, taking control of the first game with a 4-0 lead. The Indians struggled to keep pace, with Crasto netting a long rally and Ponnappa's smash proving insufficient to challenge the Japanese.The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Japanese racing to a 7-1 lead. Crasto's finger injury further hampered the Indians' efforts, and the Japanese duo's quick court coverage and effective combination of power and placement proved too much for the Indian pair.Despite the setback, Ponnappa and Crasto remain determined to finish their Olympic campaign on a high note. "There's a lot to take away," Crasto said. "It builds my confidence as we are playing at such a high level and giving fight to each and every pair. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to play here in front of so many people. It's not over for us yet, hopefully we will be able to pull through."The Indians will face Australia's Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu in their final group game, with a victory essential to keep their Olympic hopes alive.

The Indian men's doubles badminton duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are aiming to continue their winning streak at the Paris Olympics, despite a setback in their second Group C match. The match against Germany's Marvin Seidel and Mark Lamsfuss was canceled due to Lamsfuss's knee injury, making their third game a must-win.Satwiksairaj and Chirag began their Olympic campaign with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar. They were scheduled to face Seidel and Lamsfuss, ranked 31st in the world and the 2022 European Badminton men's doubles champions. However, Lamsfuss's injury forced the cancellation of the match.As per Badminton World Federation (BWF) regulations, all matches involving Group C, including those played and yet to be played, are now considered deleted. This means that Satwiksairaj and Chirag's next match against the Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto on Tuesday becomes crucial.Alfian and Ardianto, formerly ranked number one, are currently ranked seventh in the world. They have won bronze medals at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships and were part of the 2020 Thomas Cup-winning Indonesian team. The Indian duo has a slight edge over the Indonesians, having won three of their five previous encounters.Satwiksairaj and Chirag are considered strong medal contenders for India. They have won two BWF Tour titles this year, the French Open and the Thailand Open. They were also runners-up in the Malaysian Open and India Open. They were part of the Indian team that competed in the Thomas Cup 2024 but lost to China in the quarterfinals.With a peak ranking of number one in men's doubles, several BWF Tour titles, a World Championships bronze medal, and gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, Satwiksairaj and Chirag have a proven track record of success. They will be hoping to add an Olympic medal to their impressive collection.

Lakshya Sen's victory over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon in the men's singles Group L match at the Paris Olympics has been nullified due to Cordon's withdrawal from the tournament due to a left elbow injury. As per BWF regulations for group stage play, the match between Lakshya and Cordon has been "deleted."Lakshya's ranking will now be determined by the results of his remaining Group L matches. He will face Julian Carragi on July 29. The decision has sparked controversy among fans, who have criticized it as "unfair" to Lakshya.Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a strong start with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over France's Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar in Group C. However, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost to Republic Korea's Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong in straight games in their group match.PV Sindhu also began her campaign with a dominant straight-game win against Maldives' Fathimath Abdul Razzaq, securing a 21-9, 21-6 victory. Speaking after the match, Sindhu expressed her satisfaction with her performance and emphasized the importance of mental strength in overcoming challenges.

India's HS Prannoy made a triumphant debut at the Olympics, securing a straight-game victory over Fabian Roth of Germany in the men's singles competition. Despite battling chikungunya in the lead-up to the Games, Prannoy showcased remarkable fitness and determination in his 21-18, 21-12 triumph.The 32-year-old from Kerala faced a stern test from Roth, who engaged him in intense rallies. However, Prannoy's superior experience and tactical acumen proved decisive. After trailing 14-11 in the first game, he surged ahead with a flurry of points, converting two game points after Roth's error at the net.In the second game, Prannoy asserted his dominance, finding his range and constructing rallies with precision. His deft touch and attacking shots proved too much for Roth, who struggled to keep pace. Prannoy's net game was particularly impressive, helping him to build a comfortable lead.With eight match points in hand, Prannoy sealed the victory after Roth's wide shot. The Indian shuttler's performance was a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit. He will now face Le Duc Phat of Vietnam in his final group match, aiming to secure a berth in the knockout stage.Prannoy's victory marks a significant milestone for Indian badminton. It is the first time an Indian male shuttler has won a match in the Olympics since 2012. His success is a testament to the growing strength of Indian badminton and the country's potential to excel on the world stage.