The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, and Ayush Shetty are preparing for the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. Sen, a former bronze medallist, aims for a deep run despite an inconsistent year, while the doubles pair focuses on adapting to court conditions. Rising star Ayush Shetty faces a tough opening challenge against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi, with all players expressing excitement about playing in front of a home crowd and noting improved venue conditions.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty is actively working to transform his 'natural laid-back approach' into a more aggressive playing style as he prepares for his World Championship debut, where he faces current world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in his opening match.
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.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and reigning men's doubles champion Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will headline the Indian badminton squad at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Indian para badminton star Pramod Bhagat clinched the men's singles SL3 gold medal at the British & Irish International, defeating compatriot Nitesh Kumar in the final. Bhagat also secured a bronze in mixed doubles. Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar added a silver and two bronze medals to India's tally, highlighting a strong performance by the Indian contingent in Dublin.
Dev Ruparelia and Nishchal Chand secured victories in the men's singles category at the YONEX Dutch Junior International 2026, while Shaina Manimuthu advanced in the women's singles.
India's Tanvi Sharma defeated Japan's Natsuki Nidaira to reach the semifinals of the Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton tournament.
'Frankly, I'm in that zone for another Olympics.'
A look at some of the long-standing barriers or world records which were broken in athletics, cricket and badminton.
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.
Star Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured the China Masters Super 750 title after a thrilling three-game comeback victory against China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu. This marks their second title of the season and provides a significant confidence boost ahead of the upcoming Asian Games.
Top Indian shuttlers have received a mixed draw for the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, with PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen getting relatively favourable starts, while Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty faces a formidable opening round against defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China.
Indian badminton players Devika Sihag, Rounak Chouhan, and Kidambi Srikanth have advanced to the semifinals of the US Open badminton tournament in Fullerton, USA. Sihag caused an upset by defeating third seed Riko Gunji, while Chouhan continued his strong performance. Srikanth's win sets up the possibility of an all-Indian final.
Indian para-badminton players, led by Pramod Bhagat, delivered a stellar performance at the Spanish Para Badminton International 2024, securing multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals across various categories.
'They want us to win in every match, like in cricket.' 'It's so tough to play every tournament and win.'
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.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty discuss their efforts to increase badminton's visibility and appreciation in India following their Thomas Cup triumph and bronze medal win.
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.
Kidambi Srikanth ended his impressive run with a runner-up finish at the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament after going down fighting in three games to Chinese Taipei's Su Li-yang.
Indian badminton player Tanvi Sharma progresses to the semifinals of the Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament after defeating Japan's Natsuki Nidaira. Other Indian players also participated in the tournament.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty secured a dramatic comeback victory to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 tournament. However, star men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were forced to retire due to injury, while HS Prannoy exited in the first round. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde advanced in mixed doubles.
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.
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen advanced to the second round of the BWF World Championships after overcoming Austria's Collins Valentine Filimon. The women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also stunned 16th seeds to reach the pre-quarterfinals. However, India faced a poor outing in mixed doubles, with two pairs crashing out in the opening round, though Unnati Hooda also progressed in women's singles.
Ayush Shetty's coach, Sagar Chopda, believes that the Indian shuttler's challenging World Championships opener against world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi could work in his favour, citing Shi Yu Qi's recent form and the home crowd advantage.
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.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is aiming for a historic sixth World Championships medal, driven by her enduring "hunger towards the game" since starting her senior career in 2009.
Lakshya Sen, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, faced a surprising second-round defeat to USA's Garret Tan at the BWF World Championships. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising star Ayush Shetty successfully advanced to the pre-quarterfinals. Other Indian pairs also saw mixed results, with some progressing and others bowing out.
The BWF World Championships are returning to India after 17 years, to be held in New Delhi from August 17-23. Tickets, priced from Rs 499 to Rs 5,500, are now on sale through BookMyShow, with various categories and early bird discounts available. Indian stars like Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, alongside international badminton greats, are set to compete.
Young Indian badminton player Ayush Shetty discusses his experience at the Badminton Asia Championships, his loss in the final, and his plans for future improvement.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is set to chase an unprecedented sixth medal at the BWF World Championships, which are returning to India after 17 years, beginning in New Delhi on Monday. Sindhu, already a five-time World Championships medallist, is high on confidence after winning the Japan Open Super 750 last month.
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu's quest for a BWF title continues after she was defeated by top seed Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals of the Australian Badminton Open. The Indian shuttler lost in straight games, marking her second semifinal exit this season and ending India's campaign in the tournament.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu secured her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open, defeating local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in straight games.
India's Rounak Chouhan advanced to the men's singles main draw of the Macau Open Super 300 badminton tournament after his opponent, Hein Htut, retired. Other Indian players, Tushar Suveer, Alap Mishra, and the women's doubles pair of Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam, were eliminated in the qualification rounds.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu commenced her campaign at the BWF World Championships with a dominant victory over Ireland's Sophia Noble. Sindhu, a five-time World Championships medallist, is aiming for a historic sixth medal at the event. Other Indian pairs, including Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Hariharan Amsakarunan-MR Arjun, also advanced.
Badminton legend Saina Nehwal has lauded PV Sindhu's significantly improved attacking game, stating that her Japan Open Super 750 victory demonstrates her enduring championship quality and potential for more titles, despite recent injury challenges.
Malvika Bansod and Ashmita Chaliha progressed to the second round of the Malaysia Masters Super 500, while Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy suffered early exits.
Devika Sihag won the women's singles title at the Azerbaijan International badminton tournament, marking her second consecutive international victory. Sathwik Reddy K and Radhika Sharma also secured the mixed doubles title.
Lakshya Sen defeated China's Li Shi Feng to reach the semifinals of the All England Open, continuing his impressive run in the tournament.
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.
