Two-time Olympics medallist P V Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and the star pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty form the core of India's squad for the Badminton Asia Team Championships, in Qingdao, China, from February 3-8.
The central government has revamped the Khelo India Scheme's funding pattern, allocating a Rs 565 crore component for states to co-share the cost of future sports infrastructure development projects over a five-year plan. This new model, part of a Rs 29,054 crore outlay, aims to increase state ownership and participation in sports development, significantly expanding the scheme's reach and athlete base.
Ayush Shetty of India won a silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships after losing to China's Shi Yu Qi in the final. Despite the loss, it was a successful tournament for the young player, who defeated several top-ranked opponents.
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen and coach Vimal Kumar have paid tribute to Viktor Axelsen after the two-time Olympic champion announced his retirement due to ongoing back problems.
India has opened its Asian Games medal tally with two silvers in shooting, driven by Elavenil Valarivan's performance, and secured an unexpected podium finish in Mixed Martial Arts. The women's cricket team also advanced to the finals, aiming for a second consecutive gold.
The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-member Indian contingent, comprising 265 male and 227 female athletes, for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics forms the largest group with 73 participants, including star athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Jyothi Yarraji. Other prominent sports like shooting, weightlifting, badminton, boxing, and wrestling also feature strong teams, with some adjustments made due to doping violations.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu secured her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open, defeating local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in straight games.
Two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu secured her first major title in two years at the Japan Open Super 750, defeating Akane Yamaguchi. This victory, which also made her the first Indian to win the tournament, has significantly boosted her confidence ahead of the World Championships. Sindhu reflected on her challenging journey, overcoming niggles and injuries to return stronger.
Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma, 17, secured her first BWF World Tour title by winning the women's singles at the Taipei Open Super 300. She defeated Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in straight games, showcasing her potential as a rising star in the sport.
"In the second set, I was on the slower side. I was trying to make rallies happen but the points went very quickly," she added.
India concluded its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with a creditable fourth place, securing 85 medals, including 21 golds. The final days saw a surge in gold medals, notably from the cricket and hockey teams, and historic individual wins by 17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod and golfer Pranavi Urs.
India's chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand believes the sport's upcoming shift to a 15x3 scoring system will lead to some players being 'wiped off' due to the increased premium on speed, power, and mental strength.
Vikramaditya Chaufla and Sidharth Nandal emerged as top performers at the All India Racketlon Open in Mumbai, securing multiple medals. Chaufla won two golds and a silver, while Nandal bagged two golds, showcasing their prowess in the multi-racket sport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's strong bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and detailed plans for a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to ensure significant participation and success in the event. He highlighted the success of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and India's growing presence in global sports.
Seasoned shuttler HS Prannoy and rising star Unnati Hooda will lead the Indian contingent at the Taipei Open Super 300 badminton tournament. Both players are looking for consistent performances, with Prannoy facing Japan's Minoru Koga and Unnati taking on a qualifier. Several other Indian players, including Tharun Mannepalli, M Manjunath, S Dayanand, Kiran George, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, and others in doubles, are also set to compete.
Former India coach Vimal Kumar urges the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to maintain the current 21-point scoring system, arguing it represents the true essence of badminton. He also highlights the collaborative coaching approach behind Ayush Shetty's recent success.
'Self-funded is a big one. We don't travel as a team so we don't have a therapist, treatment support or a trainer. A lot of times you're training on your own and it's tough.'
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Thursday said it has reviewed the facilities at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, which is hosting the $950,000 India Open, and asserted that the venue meets all requirements for staging the World Championships in August.
Ayush Shetty won a silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships, losing to Shi Yu Qi in the final. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable achievement for the unseeded player.
Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu are on a collision course at next week's World Championships in Basel, Switzerland, as they have been placed in the same half after the world governing body re-conducted the women's singles draw.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has dismissed concerns about organisational chaos at the Asian Games, attributing criticisms to attempts to "politicise" the event. Despite widespread issues like accommodation scarcity, lengthy check-ins, and athlete complaints, OCA officials insist challenges are normal and are being handled effectively. They also addressed a diplomatic complaint from South Korea regarding a historical figure at a welcome ceremony and defended cost-saving measures like container-style accommodation.
Double Olympic champion Lin Dan of China will defend his World Championships title in August after receiving a wild card for the Guangzhou event, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said on Thursday.
The Rio Olympics gold medallist had withdrawn from the All England Championships this year after suffering the injury during the Swiss Open.
Despite falling short in the Badminton Asia Championships final, coach Sagar Chopda believes Ayush Shetty possesses the potential to become a top-five player in the world, highlighting the need for patience and continued development.
Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma, 17, secured her first BWF World Tour title by defeating Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in straight games at the Taipei Open Super 300, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto's growing trust, tactical understanding and complementary front-and-back court roles have strengthened their chemistry, helping the Indian pair become more consistent and competitive.
Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated from the Japan Open Super 750 tournament on Wednesday.
Satwik-Chirag won the match 19-21, 21-15, 21-17.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) have opted against giving twice Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei a wildcard for the world championship, leaving Malaysia in an awkward selection position.
The script remained the same in the second game as well, with Sindhu maintaining her firm grip over the proceedings to race to a 6-0 lead in just two minutes.
India's Ayush Shetty secured a spot in the Badminton Asia Championships final after defeating top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a thrilling three-game match.
India's men's and women's teams advanced to the quarter-finals despite suffering narrow 2-3 defeats to Japan and Thailand respectively in their final group ties at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China, on Thursday.
India's Ayush Shetty secured a spot in the Badminton Asia Championships final after defeating top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn in a thrilling three-game match.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has reached her first final in over two years at the Japan Open. Her opponent, Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei of China, retired midway through their women's singles semifinal due to a hamstring injury. Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10 when Chen was forced to pull out. Sindhu will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Japan's Akane Yamaguchi and Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha has won her first BWF World Tour title, defeating China's Han Qian Xi in the women's singles final of the Korea Masters Super 300 tournament.
Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal has urged the Badminton World Federation to exercise caution regarding proposed scoring changes, maintaining that the current 21-point system preserves the sport's essential intensity and endurance.
'The last five years have been great, it has been a lovely journey. There have been lots of ups and down but I have learnt a lot, experienced a lot, improved a lot.'
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen secured impressive victories to advance to the second round of the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament, while other Indian players faced setbacks.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was defeated by world No. 1 An Se Young at the Indonesia Open, marking her tenth consecutive loss to the Korean. Meanwhile, the Indian men's doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun caused a significant upset, advancing to their first-ever BWF World Tour Super 1000 quarterfinals.
Ayush Shetty's silver medal at the Asia Championships has positioned him as a potential men's singles contender for India, boosting the nation's badminton prospects as they prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
