Badminton

PV Sindhu, India's badminton ace, returns to the international circuit at the Malaysia Masters tournament, seeking to regain her form and boost her confidence ahead of the Paris Olympics. After skipping the Uber Cup and Thailand Open, Sindhu aims to make a deep run in the women's singles draw of the BWF World Tour Super 500 event.Sindhu, a former world champion and Olympic medalist, has struggled to regain her top form since recovering from a knee injury last year. Despite reaching the quarterfinals in two tournaments, she has endured a series of narrow losses. Her last title win came in the 2022 Singapore Open, and she came close to claiming the Spain Masters last year, reaching the finals.With a new mentor in Prakash Padukone, Sindhu has shown glimpses of her menacing game but has lacked consistency in her shot selection. She will face Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour in her opening match, hoping to test her preparation against the next generation of players who have troubled her recently.Other Indian women's singles players to watch include Ashmita Chaliha, Aakarshi Kashyap, and Malvika Bansod. Chaliha has played well against top players like Han Yue and Aya Ohori, pushing both to three games.In men's singles, Kiran George is the lone Indian representative, facing Japan's Takuma Obayashi in his opening match. Krishna Prasad Garaga and Sai Pratheek K will compete in men's doubles, while B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy, along with Sathish Kumar Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath, will carry India's hopes in mixed doubles.

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 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continued their impressive form at the Thailand Open, securing a spot in the semifinals of the men's doubles event. The world No. 3 duo cruised to a 21-7, 21-14 victory over Malaysians Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap in the quarterfinals. They will now face Chinese Taipei's Lu Ming-Che and Tang Kai-Wei in the last four.In the women's doubles, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa also advanced to the semifinals, but their path was more challenging. They battled for one hour and 16 minutes to overcome the sixth-seeded South Korean pair of Lee Yu Lim and Shen Seung Chan, winning 21-15, 21-23, 21-19. The Indians will face top seeds Thai shuttlers Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai in the semifinals.However, the tournament came to an end for young Indian shuttler Meiraba Luwang Maisnam. The promising player was defeated 12-21, 5-21 by fourth seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.The Indian duo of Satwik and Chirag have been in excellent form this season, winning the India Open and reaching the semifinals of the All England Open. They will be aiming to continue their winning streak and secure a podium finish in Bangkok. Crasto and Ponnappa, on the other hand, have shown great resilience and determination to reach the semifinals. They will be hoping to upset the top seeds and make it to the final.

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 made a strong start to the Thailand Open, cruising into the men's doubles pre-quarterfinals with a dominant victory over Malaysia's Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub Azriyn and Tan Wee Kiong. The top-seeded Indian duo displayed their prowess, dispatching their opponents 21-13, 21-13 in a mere 34 minutes.In the next round, Satwik and Chirag will face a formidable challenge against the Chinese pair of Xie Hao Nan and Zeng Wei Han. Meanwhile, Ashmita Chaliha showcased her resilience in the women's singles competition, overcoming a first-game deficit to defeat Indonesia's Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo 19-21, 21-15, 21-14.However, a daunting task lies ahead for Ashmita in the second round, as she will confront the tournament's top seed, Han Yue of China. Yue proved her dominance by comfortably defeating another Indian, Malvika Bansod, 21-11, 21-10.

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.

The 29th Gurugram District Badminton Championship 2024, held from April 25th to 28th, witnessed an unprecedented display of badminton prowess. With a staggering 1000 entries, the tournament showcased the region's finest talent. Flow Sports Life Badminton Academy emerged as the undisputed champions, securing an astonishing 14 Gold and 14 Silver medals across 28 events.The academy's dominance was a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence. Its players swept 28 medals in 28 events, maintaining their 100% record from the previous year. Among the standout performers were Saanvi Aneja, Aayushman Bhowmick, Navya Goenka, Krishnav Puri, Navya Aswal, and Yashodhara. Their exceptional performances not only contributed to the academy's success but also earned them the opportunity to represent Gurugram at the state level.Sr Badminton Coach Ankit Kumar expressed his pride in the athletes' achievements, stating, "This victory is not just about the medals; it's about the hard work, dedication, and passion our players put into every game every day."Flow Sports Life Badminton Academy's success underscores its dedication to nurturing talent and promoting badminton at the grassroots. With structured training and experienced coaches, the academy empowers young athletes to reach their full potential. In recent achievements, the academy players had great performances in the Delhi district championship and the Bihar State championship.Programme Lead Akul Chauhan emphasized the importance of grassroots tournaments, saying, "It's truly heartening to note that many of the finalists were young athletes who exhibited impressive skills and notable progress at the sub-junior level. We need more such tournaments at the grassroots level for each sport. The young athletes are the future of badminton, and we must do everything to support their talent."As India prepares to host the Olympics in 2036, the need for continuous improvement in sports is paramount. Flow Sports Life Badminton Academy serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the power of dedication, hard work, and grassroots development in shaping the future of Indian badminton.

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.

India's Thomas Cup defense hit a roadblock as they succumbed to a 1-4 defeat against Indonesia in their final Group C tie. Despite qualifying for the quarter-finals, the defending champions were given a wake-up call ahead of the knockouts.HS Prannoy emerged as a bright spot for India, showcasing his readiness for the upcoming challenges. The Indian No.1 overcame health concerns to pull off a come-from-behind victory over world No.7 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.The first doubles match proved to be a nail-biter, with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty narrowly losing to Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana after saving 12 match points.Lakshya Sen fought valiantly against reigning All England and Asian champion Jonatan Christie, but ultimately fell short in a three-game thriller. The defeat gave Indonesia the lead in the tie.India's hopes of an upset in the second doubles were dashed as Dhruv Kapila and K Sai Pratheek lost to world No.13 Leo Carnando and Daniel Martin.In the third singles, Kidambi Srikanth squandered two match points before losing to Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.Despite the setback, India remains confident heading into the quarter-finals, where they will face hosts China. The Indian women's team, meanwhile, will take on Japan in the Uber Cup quarter-final on Thursday.