Badminton

The world of badminton has been rocked by allegations of age fabrication against rising star Lakshya Sen and his family. The Karnataka High Court has now permitted an investigation into these serious claims, involving Lakshya, his parents, brother, and coach....

Pullela Gopichand, the legendary badminton coach, recently stirred up a hornet's nest with his statement, "Don't let your child pursue sport." While seemingly discouraging, his remark was far from a flippant dismissal of sports. Instead, it was a poignant reflection...

Double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament on Wednesday, while Lakshya Sen suffered an opening-round exit.Sindhu, ranked 20th in the world, faced Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan, ranked 11th, in a one-sided first-round match. Sindhu dominated the match, winning 21-12, 21-18 in just 38 minutes. She will face Michelle Li of Canada in the next round.Sen, on the other hand, squandered a one-game advantage to lose 22-20, 17-21, 16-21 to Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao in the men's singles round of 32. The Paris Olympics semifinalist held a slim lead in the decider before Hao took control. With the score reading 17-16, both shuttlers fought tooth and nail, but Hao won the last five points in a row to emerge victorious.Sindhu started the match sluggishly, quickly falling behind 1-5. However, the Indian shuttler, who has been grappling with poor form, regained her composure with a series of clever drop shots, making a strong comeback to take a narrow 11-10 lead at the break.Having gained momentum, Sindhu extended her advantage as the eighth-seeded Busanan committed back-to-back unforced errors. Sindhu then took control, winning seven consecutive points to seal the first game with a cross-court half smash.She started the second game aggressively, racing to a 4-0 lead before the Thai shuttler registered her first point. Sindhu's dominance continued as she claimed 11 of the last 12 points, cruising to an easy victory.With the win, Sindhu extended her commanding head-to-head record over the Thai shuttler to 19-1. With the exit of Sen, Sindhu is the lone Indian in contention. The women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand had also made a first-round exit on Tuesday.

Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen are set to compete in the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament, eager to regain their top form after recent setbacks.Sindhu, a former world champion, has struggled to find her best form since the Paris Olympics, where she was eliminated in the quarterfinals. She reached the quarterfinals at the Denmark Open Super 750 but lost in a tense deciding game to Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia.Lakshya Sen, a rising star in the men's singles, has also faced early exits at the Arctic Open Super 500 and Denmark Open. Despite his impressive game, his mental resilience has been questioned after his near-miss at the Tokyo Olympics, where he slipped from a medal position in a heartbreaking loss.Despite these setbacks, both players are confident in their preparations. Sindhu has been working closely with new coaches Anup Sridhar and Korean legend Lee Syun Il, focusing on improving her speed and defense. Lakshya Sen will open against Malaysia's Leong Jun Hao, with a potential showdown against eighth seed Anthony Ginting of Indonesia in the next round.The only other Indian pair in action will be the women's doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who will face Taipei's Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun in their opening match.The Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament is a crucial event for Sindhu and Sen as they aim to regain their form and prepare for the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games.

India's Kiran George continued his impressive run at the Korea Masters badminton tournament, upsetting third seed Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling three-game match to reach the men's singles quarterfinals.The 24-year-old Indian, ranked 44th in the world, displayed grit and determination to overcome his higher-ranked opponent, who is ranked 31st. George started strongly, taking the first game 21-17. However, Jen fought back in the second game, leveling the match with a 21-19 victory.Undeterred, George regained his composure in the decider, racing to an 8-2 lead. Jen gradually closed the gap, but George held his nerve to seal the game 21-17 and secure his place in the last eight.George's victory was particularly impressive considering he had to dig deep in his opening round match against Vietnam's Kuan Lin Kuo, winning 15-21, 21-12, 21-15.In the quarterfinals, George will face fifth seed Takuma Obayashi of Japan, who is ranked 22nd in the world. George will be aiming to continue his giant-killing run and reach the semifinals of the BWF Super 300 tournament.George's performance in Korea is a testament to his growing maturity and consistency on the international stage. The Indian shuttler has been steadily climbing the world rankings and is now knocking on the door of the top 30.

Rising Indian badminton star Malvika Bansod's remarkable run at the Hylo Open Super 300 tournament culminated in a valiant runner-up finish, as she narrowly missed out on the title against Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt. The 23-year-old southpaw, who had impressed throughout the tournament with notable victories, ultimately fell short in the final, losing 10-21, 15-21 to the experienced Dane.Bansod's journey to the final was marked by a series of impressive performances. She overcame the challenge of fourth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam in the quarterfinals, showcasing her determination and skill. However, in the final, she faced a formidable opponent in Blichfeldt, who proved too strong on the day.The opening game saw Blichfeldt capitalize on Bansod's errors, establishing a commanding lead of 17-10. The Danish shuttler's precise shots and aggressive play proved too much for Bansod, who struggled to find her rhythm. Blichfeldt ultimately closed out the game with ease, leaving Bansod with a mountain to climb.Undeterred, Bansod fought back in the second game, even taking an early lead of 11-8. However, Blichfeldt's powerful cross-court smashes proved too difficult to handle. The Dane equalized at 12-all and then captured five consecutive points to secure the title.Despite the defeat, Bansod's performance at the Hylo Open Super 300 is a testament to her growing talent and potential. This was her second appearance in a major final, having previously reached the title round of the Syed Modi India International in 2022.In September, Bansod made headlines by upsetting Paris Olympics bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the opening round of the China Open Super 100. Her quarterfinal exit in that tournament was a minor setback, but it only served to fuel her determination to improve.Bansod's impressive run at the Hylo Open Super 300 has undoubtedly raised her profile in the badminton world. She is now ranked 50th in the world and is poised to make further strides in the coming months. With her talent, determination, and unwavering spirit, Bansod is a rising star to watch in the world of badminton.