Badminton

U Vimal Kumar's animated coaching during the All England Open badminton on Wednesday proved crucial as his ward Lakshya Sen overcame the challenge of Magnus Johannesen in the first round. Despite Sen's lead, Johannesen's powerful shots kept Kumar on edge.Johannesen, a highly-rated Danish player, is considered a rising star in men's badminton. His left-handedness poses a unique challenge to right-handed opponents. However, Sen's superior net play and patience in rallies earned him a 21-14, 21-14 victory.While Sen's strong start is promising, his path ahead becomes more challenging. On Thursday, he faces Johannesen's compatriot and world No. 3 Anders Antonsen. Sen won their first encounter, but Antonsen has dominated their subsequent meetings.This is the third consecutive year that Sen and Antonsen will face off in the All England Open, with both previous encounters occurring in Round 2. Sen eliminated Antonsen in 2021 en route to the final, while Antonsen prevailed in 2022.Antonsen has been in impressive form this year, winning the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Masters. Priyanshu Rajawat, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing loss to Indonesian Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, extending his losing streak in the first two rounds of the BWF World Tour to five.In women's doubles, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa defeated Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam for the second time in as many months. They will now face Chinese fifth seeds Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu in the second round. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, however, lost to Indonesian pair Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.

Viktor Axelsen and Kidambi Srikanth, once touted as the future of men's badminton, have taken vastly different paths since 2017. Axelsen has soared to unprecedented heights, becoming a two-time world champion, Olympic champion, and world No. 1. Srikanth, on the other hand, has struggled to maintain his early promise, last winning a tournament in 2017.Their contrasting fortunes were evident in their recent encounter at the All England Open Badminton Championships. Axelsen annihilated Srikanth 21-9, 21-9, extending his winning streak against the Indian to eight matches. Srikanth's confidence has been shattered, while Axelsen's dominance continues to grow.Axelsen's success stems from his exceptional attack and defense. His towering height and powerful jump smash make him a formidable opponent. However, it is his ability to adapt and counter his opponents' strategies that sets him apart.Srikanth, once known for his aggressive style, has lost his attacking edge. His opponents have deciphered his game and found ways to neutralize his venom. As a result, Srikanth has been making more errors and struggling to win matches.The All England Open also saw the exit of defending champion Li Shi Feng and Olympic-bound HS Prannoy. Prannoy, who had a strong 2023, has struggled this season, raising concerns about his form ahead of the Olympics.PV Sindhu, on a comeback trail, advanced to the next round after her opponent retired. However, she faces a daunting task in Round 2 against world No. 1 An Se Young, an opponent she has never beaten.

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.

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.