Badminton

India's Top Shuttlers Withdraw from BWF Japan OpenIndia's top badminton players, including PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, and the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have withdrawn from the upcoming BWF Japan Open, scheduled to commence on August 24.The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed that defending champion Viktor Axelsen, fresh from winning his second Olympic gold medal, will be among the star attractions in the tournament. However, there have been several high-profile withdrawals, including Olympic champions Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, Chen Yu Fei, and Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.Lakshya Sen came close to winning the bronze medal for India in the Paris Olympics but lost to Axelsen in the semifinals. Other prominent withdrawals from India include Priyanshu Rajawat, Sameer Verma, Sankar Muthusamy, and Pusarla V Sindhu.Despite the withdrawals, the field in all categories remains strong. Shi Yu Qi, Jonatan Christie, Anders Antonsen, Kodai Naraoka, and Kunlavut Vitidsarn are expected to compete in men's singles, while Tai Tzu Ying, Akane Yamaguchi, Wang Zhi Yi, and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung will be in action in women's singles.In men's doubles, world champions Seo Seung Jae/Kang Min Hyuk will be looking for their first Japan Open title, while in women's doubles, local hopefuls Chiharu Shida/Nami Matsuyama and Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara will attempt to break the Korean success streak.Olympic bronze medallists Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino will defend their mixed doubles title, with the field also featuring world champions Seo Seung Jae/Chae Yu Jung, Olympic silver medallists Kim Won Ho/Jeong Na Eun, and Indonesia Open winners Jiang Zheng Bang/Wei Ya Xin.

Indian doubles badminton specialist Ashwini Ponnappa has expressed shock and disappointment over the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) claim that she received significant financial assistance in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. Ponnappa asserts that she received minimal individual support and that her request for a coach was denied.SAI's document details financial support provided to Paris-bound athletes, including Rs 4,50,000 under TOPS and Rs 1,48,04,080 under ACTC for Ponnappa. However, Ponnappa claims that the ACTC funds were spent on all national campers, not solely on her."I'm absolutely shocked... I don't mind not getting money but telling the nation that I got money is ridiculous. I haven't received it," Ponnappa told PTI. "I don't have a specific coach. As for my personalized trainer, I'm paying for him myself."Ponnappa, 34, is a decorated doubles player with Commonwealth Games medals and Olympic appearances to her credit. She joined forces with Tanisha Crasto in December 2022 and qualified for Paris in May 2023, after which they were included in TOPS.Despite her achievements, Ponnappa feels she has not received adequate support in recent years. "The last year I haven't been supported and it's ok. But you can't say I've been given Rs 1.5 crore," she said.SAI maintains that the ACTC funds were used for Ponnappa's travel, stay, food, and competition expenses as part of the Indian team. However, Ponnappa disputes this, stating that she has not received the funds directly.Ponnappa's concerns highlight the challenges faced by Indian athletes in securing adequate financial and coaching support. Despite her disappointment, she remains grateful for the support she has received in the past.

Ace badminton player Saina Nehwal's recent confession that she was unaware of javelin as an Olympic sport until Neeraj Chopra's gold medal victory in 2021 has sparked a debate about the limited knowledge of athletes outside their own disciplines.Nehwal's admission, made during an interview with journalist Shubhankar Mishra, highlights the intense focus and dedication required in professional sports, which often leaves little time for exploring other disciplines. "When Neeraj won, that is when I got to know about athletics has got this game too," she said. "You'll gain knowledge only when you see it, right? If you don't see, how will you know?"Nehwal's comments resonated with many athletes who acknowledged the challenges of staying abreast of other sports while pursuing their own. "It's not that you don't want to know, but you're so busy in your own field, how much time do you get deep into something else?" she explained. "If not you'll have to Google everything non-stop. If you're perfect in your own field, that's more than enough."However, Nehwal's remarks also drew criticism from some who questioned her lack of awareness about a major Olympic event. "Very surprising that a sportsperson of Saina Nehwal's calibre should feign ignorance about javelin event," said one user on social media.Despite the controversy, Nehwal's comments underscore the importance of specialization in elite sports. Athletes must dedicate countless hours to training, competition, and recovery, leaving little time for pursuing other interests. As a result, it is not uncommon for athletes to have limited knowledge of sports outside their own.Nehwal's experience also highlights the need for greater cross-promotion and awareness of different sports. By showcasing the achievements of athletes in various disciplines, sports organizations and media outlets can help broaden the knowledge of fans and athletes alike.

Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist Pramod Bhagat has been suspended for 18 months due to whereabouts failures, effectively barring him from competing in the upcoming Paris Paralympic Games. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced the suspension on Tuesday, citing Bhagat's violation of anti-doping regulations.Bhagat, an SL3 athlete, was found to have committed three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. This breach of regulations resulted in a suspension from March 1, 2024, as determined by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Anti-Doping Division.Bhagat appealed the decision to the CAS Appeals Division, but his appeal was dismissed on July 29, 2024. The CAS Appeals Division upheld the original suspension, which is now in effect.Bhagat's suspension is a significant blow to the Indian para badminton team. He is a highly decorated athlete, having won a gold medal in the men's singles SL3 category at the Tokyo Paralympics. He also holds multiple World Championships and Asian Para Games titles.The suspension highlights the importance of adhering to anti-doping regulations in sports. Whereabouts failures occur when an athlete fails to provide accurate information about their location for drug testing purposes. This can hinder the effectiveness of anti-doping programs and undermine the integrity of competition.Bhagat's suspension serves as a reminder that all athletes, regardless of their status or achievements, must comply with anti-doping rules. The consequences of violating these regulations can be severe, as evidenced by Bhagat's ineligibility for the Paris Paralympic Games.

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has come to the defense of badminton legend Prakash Padukone, who recently called for players to take responsibility for India's disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics. Padukone's comments came after Lakshya Sen squandered two opportunities to win a medal, losing in the semifinals and bronze medal match.Gavaskar argues that Padukone's remarks were justified, as players today receive ample support from federations and the government. He believes that players should be held accountable for their performances, rather than making excuses.Gavaskar also criticized Lakshya Sen's performance, saying that he "lost his trend of thought and concentration" in crucial moments. He emphasized the importance of mental toughness and focus, which cannot be taught by coaches but must come from within the athlete.This was the first time in 16 years that India did not win a medal in badminton at the Olympics. Earlier, double-Olympic medalist PV Sindhu suffered a shocking exit in the pre-quarters, while the Asian Games champion pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were stunned in the quarters.Gavaskar's comments have sparked a debate, with some criticizing Padukone for being too harsh on Lakshya Sen. However, Gavaskar maintains that his remarks were well-intentioned and aimed at motivating players to perform better in the future.

Prakash Padukone's comments on Lakshya Sen's loss at the Paris Olympics 2024 have sparked controversy. Padukone, the former coach and mentor of the badminton team, expressed disappointment and urged players to "step up and win as expected."These remarks drew mixed reactions. Ashwini Ponnappa, a fellow badminton player, responded with a fiery reply. However, Olympic medallist Abhinav Bindra, who was present at the Olympics as part of the Athletes Commission, partially agreed with Padukone.Bindra emphasized collective accountability, stating, "An athlete is very much part of it. So I don't completely disagree with what Mr. Padukone said." He also highlighted the need for responsible spending on athletes and ensuring that funds are utilized effectively.Padukone further stressed the importance of mental training for athletes to handle pressure situations. He suggested implementing a system similar to China's, where they develop multiple players instead of relying on a single star."We cannot remain satisfied just having one player. We need to focus on the next line, maybe even the third line," Padukone said. "There is a lot of talent, but a combined effort is required."He also emphasized the need for players to take responsibility and be accountable for their performance. "Not just ask for whatever you ask for. Once you are given that, you also have to be accountable," he said.Padukone's comments have sparked a debate about the expectations placed on Indian athletes, the need for mental training, and the importance of developing a robust talent pipeline.

The Paris Olympics 2024 has been a bittersweet experience for Indian sports fans. After the high of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where India returned with a record seven medals, the expectation was that at the Paris Olympics, the haul would be bigger. However, following a string of narrow misses and some unlucky incidents (like the Vinesh Phogat disqualification), India won six medals.Badminton was one sport where India has fared well in the last three editions. Starting from the 2012 Olympics, Indian badminton stars have returned with at least one medal. However, this time there were no medals. The star duo of Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty could not enter the semi-finals. Singles player Lakshya Sen became the first Indian male shuttler to enter the Olympic semi-final but lost crucial matches despite being in a strong situation.Amid such displays, badminton legend Prakash Padukone said that It was time for the badminton stars to bring home good results as there was enough support from the government and other stakeholders. The comment was criticised by many. Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar, however, has supported Prakash Padukone and critisiced Lakshya Sen's mental block.Gavaskar felt that Lakshya had lost his "thought and concentration". "For those who watched both the semifinal and the bronze medal matches, it did appear that Lakshya had lost his trend of thought and concentration in the way he looked at his racquet as he sipped from his water bottle in between points or at the changeovers," Gavaskar wrote."I could be completely wrong, but on TV, it looked like a blank expression, and that's usually a sign that the mind has wandered. Concentration and focus are things that no coach or trainer can ever teach. It can be developed over the years by the athlete by observing other champions and having an inner resolve, but there's no specific program for it. Yes, mind trainers are around, but they can only do so much and not more. It's got to be within the athlete."

A month ago, Kolkata Knight Riders' rising star Angkrish Raghuvanshi sparked controversy with a tweet mocking badminton ace Saina Nehwal's comments on cricket's perceived lack of risk. Nehwal, in a recent interview, had called for more support and facilities for non-cricket sports, citing the sport's popularity despite its lower level of challenge compared to badminton, basketball, and tennis.Raghuvanshi's tweet, which he later deleted, read: "Let's see how she goes when Bumrah bowls 150k's bumpers at her head." The tweet drew widespread criticism, prompting Raghuvanshi to remove it.In a recent podcast interview, Nehwal responded to Raghuvanshi's tweet, stating that she would not be able to face Bumrah's bowling without proper training, just as Bumrah would not be able to handle her 300kmph smash in badminton."Why would I face Jasprit Bumrah anyways? If I had been playing for 8 years maybe I would have answered Jasprit Bumrah," Nehwal said. "If Jasprit Bumrah plays badminton with me maybe he won't be able to take my smash."Nehwal emphasized the need for equal support and facilities for all sports, arguing that it would lead to greater success at the global level. "How many badminton academies do we have? (And then) think about how many in cricket...If that many academies are there (for badminton), best facilities, why won't we get quality players," she said.Nehwal's comments have sparked a debate about the importance of supporting non-cricket sports in India. While cricket remains the most popular sport in the country, many argue that other sports deserve equal attention and resources to foster a more diverse and successful sporting culture.

KKR's Angkrish Raghuvanshi Mocks Saina Nehwal, Sparking Debate on Sports InequalityKolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has ignited a heated debate on sports inequality in India after mocking badminton star Saina Nehwal on social media. The controversy erupted after Nehwal claimed that sports like badminton, tennis, and basketball require greater physical exertion than cricket, while criticizing fans for prioritizing cricket over other sports.In a now-deleted post on social media, Raghuvanshi took a jab at Nehwal, writing, "Let's see how she goes when Bumrah bowls 150k's bumper at her head." Nehwal responded indirectly, asserting that star pacer Jasprit Bumrah would struggle to handle her smash."How will you become Virat at that level? How will you become Rohit Sharma? So many players have to become like them. They can't. Only a few of them are like that. But I just feel that it's more of a skill-based sport. And bowlers, I agree. I won't die there. Why would I face Jasprit Bumrah anyways? If I had been playing for 8 years maybe I would have answered Jasprit Bumrah," Nehwal said on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast."If Jasprit Bumrah plays badminton with me maybe he won't be able to take my smash. We should not fight with ourselves in our own country for these things. That's what I want to say. Every sport is best in its place. But I want to say give value to other sports as well. Otherwise, where will we get sporting culture from? And cricket, Bollywood will always be our focus," added the 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist.Nehwal also highlighted the disparity in facilities and support between cricket and other sports in India, contributing to the country's struggles to win medals at the Olympics.Raghuvanshi, who made his IPL debut in 2024 and had a successful season with KKR, has since apologized for his comments. However, the incident has sparked a wider discussion about the need for greater recognition and support for non-cricket sports in India.