After a period of high and sustained excellence, has Indian badminton begun to wither—perhaps taken a downswing? The question seems pertinent given the current performances of our established stars like P.V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, as well as the top-flight doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who are struggling in tournaments and failing to inspire confidence as before—let alone win titles.
Injuries appear to be a major issue. Almost everyone seems to be carrying some niggle or the other, and it is the fortunes of Indian badminton that are getting eroded, with no fresh talent on the horizon to keep the momentum going.
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Perhaps what brought attention to the current state of affairs in the sport was the outcome of the Paris Olympics last year, where India returned without a medal in badminton. For three successive Olympics—from London 2012 onwards—Indian badminton had clinched at least one medal. The silver in Rio 2016, thanks to Sindhu, was the high point. At that stage of her career, Sindhu was in a league of her own. She followed up with a bronze in Tokyo 2020, and at that point, it seemed that each Olympics from then on would add another glorious chapter to Indian badminton history.
However, Paris 2024 proved to be a disappointment, especially when expectations were high. Hopes were pinned on not just one, but two potential medals. Lakshya Sen had shaped up well, and the doubles team of Satwik and Chirag had built strong momentum. Everything seemed within grasp—until it became a story of being so near, yet so far.
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We all remember how closely things unfolded. Lakshya showed exceptional form, defeating reigning All England champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia and India’s own H.S. Prannoy en route to the semi-final—the first Indian male to reach that stage at an Olympics. In the semi-final, he lost to reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, but he still had a shot at bronze in a playoff against Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia. Leading by a game, the Indian ace seemed on course—until he lost his way.
Meanwhile, the other medal hopes, Satwik and Chirag, crashed out in the quarter-finals, dashing hopes of even a single medal. Sindhu, struggling with form, bowed out in the round of 16, while the women’s doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa failed to progress beyond the group stage.
But we must not forget how the fairytale began back in 2012, courtesy of Saina Nehwal, a class player who experts agree changed the badminton landscape in India with her monumental bronze at the London Olympics. Until then, the sport’s lustre had come from legends like Prakash Padukone, the first Indian to win the All England Championship, and Pullela Gopichand, who later emulated that feat. But it was Saina who vaulted Indian badminton to global attention with a career full of accolades—World Championship medals, a World Junior title, Commonwealth Games honours, and much more. The Haryana-born star became the first Indian woman to reach the world number one ranking, inspiring an entire generation.
From that spark emerged P.V. Sindhu, who grabbed the baton with her Olympic feats in Rio and Tokyo, and a World Championship gold. With Saina and Sindhu at their peak, Indian badminton gained the stature of a world force. Alongside them, Satwik and Chirag emerged in the men’s doubles scene, rising to world number one and claiming multiple titles including an Asian Games gold. An Olympic medal seemed within their grasp in Paris—yet, it did not materialise.
Some observers argue that too much should not be read into India’s showing in Paris. They believe it was touch-and-go, and with a little luck and pluck, Indian badminton could have returned with a storybook ending. While such optimism is comforting, the recent trend hasn’t inspired much confidence.
The Badminton Asia Championships held recently in China reflected the prevailing low-key mood. Sindhu, rising talent Priyanshu Rajawat, Kiran George, the Dhruv Kapila–Tanisha Crasto pair, and the Ashith Surya–Amrutha Pramuthesh pair all made quiet exits—signifying that a tough struggle lies ahead if Indian badminton is to return to the golden path of recent years.
Questions continue to swirl. Is there a lack of depth in talent? Is the flow of fresh players into the sport insufficient to sustain a competitive pool of future stars? The focus inevitably turns to India’s two leading academies—Prakash Padukone’s and Gopichand’s—to unearth and nurture the next generation.
A sport that had scaled such heights must not be allowed to slip. In that context, Padukone’s remarks following Lakshya’s exit in Paris sound particularly pertinent: players, he noted, must learn to handle high-pressure situations effectively. They have all the support they need—but must make the best use of it.
The great man believes India is not short of talent; rather, there is a need for a concerted effort to build a strong foundation for the future. Here’s hoping better days are not far off for Indian shuttlers—and that a new era of greatness is just around the corner.
