India Women's Badminton team created history by winning the Badminton Asia Team Championships title by defeating Thailand 3-2 in a tight final in Selangor, Malaysia on Sunday.

Also Read: Badminton Asia Team Championships: Indian women's team creates history by confirming place in the final for the first time

This was the 5th edition of the Badminton Asia Team Championships being played since 2016. This is the first time that India has won the prestigious continental championships title in the history of the game. Whereas the men's team has earlier won bronze in 2016 and 2020.

PV Sindhu, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly and teenage sensation Anmol Kharb won their respective matches as India won the final 3-2 in Shah Alam on Sunday. The star of the show was Anmol Kharb, aged just 17, who once again came up clutch in the most high pressure situation. India beat China, Hong Kong, Japan and now Thailand at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, three out of four wins coming against steep odds.

PV Sindhu started with victory

PV Sindhu, playing her first tournament after returning from injury, gave India a 1-0 lead by defeating Supaninda Katethong 21-12, 21-12 in just 39 minutes. India went 2-0 up as Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly defeated Jongkolpham Kititharakul and Rawwinda Prajongjal in a tight three-game encounter. Gayatri and Jolly kept their spirits up and came back from 6-11 down in the final game to defeat the Thai pair 21-16, 18-21, 21-16 in the first doubles match of the 5-match tie.

Anmol Kharb won the decisive match

However, Ashmita Chaliha, who had defeated former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the semi-finals against Japan, lost to Busanan Ongbamrungphan 11-21, 14-21. India also lost the second doubles match. After this, 16-year-old Anmol Kharb, who was ranked 472nd in the world ranking, once again won in the decisive match. The Saina Nehwal fan showed courage on the biggest stage and defeated world number 45 Pornpicha Choeikeewong in straight games to give India a decisive win.

The 29th edition of the BWF World Championships 2025, officially known as the TotalEnergies BWF World Championships 2025, was held from 25th to 31st August 2025 at the Adidas Arena, Paris, France. This was the first time since 2010 that Paris hosted the championship. The tournament featured 383 competitors from 53 nations and witnessed historic victories across categories.

SHI Yu Qi of China won his first-ever World Championship crown, defeating defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the men's singles final. His earlier notable achievement was a runner-up finish at the 2018 BWF World Championships.

Also Read: Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

On the other hand, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi clinched her third World Championship title in the women's singles category, defeating China’s CHEN Yu Fei. She previously won in 2021 and 2022, and now equals Spain’s Carolina Marin’s record of three titles.

South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae won their first Men’s Doubles World Championship title, defeating Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi of China. Seo Seung Jae had earlier secured Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles in the 2023 BWF World Championships.

In the women’s doubles, Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning of China won their maiden world title by defeating Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan. This marks China’s 24th Women’s Doubles title out of 29 editions.

Meanwhile, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei created history by defeating China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin in the mixed doubles.

BWF World Championships 2025: India's Performance

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were the only medal winners in the championship. They won the bronze medal in men’s doubles after losing to China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi in the semifinals. Earlier in the event, they assured India a medal by defeating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (two-time Olympic medallists). This was their second World Championship medal after the 2022 bronze, extending India’s medal streak since 2011.

On the other hand, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu lost to Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the quarter finals and failed to achieve her 6th championship medal. Sindhu remains India’s most successful shuttler, with 5 BWF World Championship medals, including India’s only gold in 2019 (Basel, Switzerland).

Also Read: 10 Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

BWF World Championships 2025: Meda Tally

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has made it to the quarter-finals of the BWF World Championships after she knocked out World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China in straight games in the women's singles round of 16 match on Thursday.

Also Read: India’s Next Badminton Superstar: The Rising Stars to Watch in 2025

PV Sindhu (WR: 15) wins against Wang Zhi Yi (WR: 2) in STRAIGHT GAMES! 😱

She will face Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani in the quarter-finals 💪

➡️ Read more: https://t.co/qaC42cLT79 pic.twitter.com/fUHmek1DlX

— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) August 28, 2025

Sindhu dominates against World No. 2

Sindhu maintained her dominance against Wang Zhi Yi. She defeated Wang for the third time in the 5th head to head match. Sindhu was the underdog against Wang, who was coming off a title triumph at the China Open last month.

World No. 15 Sindhu won the first game by a margin of 21-19 after a tough fight. After winning the first game, Sindhu took a lead of 12-6 in the second game as well. She maintained this lead and won the match by winning the second game by a margin of 21-15. 

Sindhu continued her perfect run in the tournament

With this win, PV Sindhu continued her perfect run in the tournament. She has not dropped a single game in her three matches so far. The two-time Olympic medallist is now just one win away from securing her sixth World Championships medal.

For Sindhu, this victory also marks her first quarter-final appearance at the World Championships since her title-winning run six years ago. It also sends a strong message to rivals that the seasoned campaigner is far from done on the big stage.

Also Read: Puma ropes in PV Sindhu as brand ambassador

Sindhu to face Wardani in the quarters

Sindhu will now take on World No. 9 Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in the last eight. Sindhu has faced her four times and won twice.

The 23-year-old Wardani has been in good form this year, having won 27 matches and lost only 12 games. Sindhu, on the other hand, has lost 12 games in 2025 and won just nine. Wardani’s best performances this year have been third-place finishes at the Thailand Masters and Swiss Open.

Ayush Shetty won his maiden Super 300 title by winning the men's singles title at the BWF US Open 2025. Meanwhile, 16-year-old sensation Tnavi Sharma finished runner-up in women's singles.

Ayush defeated Canada's Brian Yang in straight games 21-13, 21-18 to lift the title. Shetty became the 5th Indian men's singles shuttler to win a Super 300+ title after Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Priyanshu Rajawat, and Sameer Verma.

After 8 years, India won a title at the US Open in any discipline since H.S. Prannoy won in 2017. 

However, it was not a perfect end for 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma as she faced a heartfelt defeat against home favourite and No. 1 seed Beiwen Zhang of the USA 11-21, 21-16, 21-10 in the finals. 

Tanvi, who is now the youngest player ever to reach the final of any Super 300 tournament, had won all the sets until the final. She had defeated WR23, WR58, WR50 & WR40 to reach the final. 

🚨𝑩𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 🏸

🇮🇳Ayush Shetty won his maiden BWF Super300 title, winning the US Open 2025.

He defeated 🇨🇦Brian Yang in straight games 21-13, 21-18!#USOpen #Badminton #BadmintonIndia pic.twitter.com/BPDdF8a8Kr

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) June 30, 2025

India's journey in Olympic Games began in 1900, but for many decades, success was limited. The nation's presence on the medal tally was defined by mostly one or two medals per edition, with the success of the Men's Hockey teams being the main reason for it.

However, the 21st century marked a turning point, as it saw India's rise at the Olympics. Their success at the Games picked up pace in several new ways.

Check out the full article to see how India's journey transformed:

1996-2008: Individual medals emerge

After years of triumph in Men's Hockey, 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw a change for India, as Leander Paes won a Bronze medal in Tennis. This victory brought in the first individual medal for India in Olympics after 44 years (previously: K.D. Jadhav won in 1952 in Wrestling).

Following this breakthrough, other individual athletes began to make their mark. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Karnam Malleswari made history with her Bronze medal win in Weightlifting, and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Moving to the next edition, the 2004 Athens Olympics saw another individual triumph, with a Silver medal this time. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore brought home India's first-ever medal in Shooting, laying the groundwork for India's extended talent pool beyond hockey.

In 2008, the momentum continued with Abhinav Bindra's Gold (Shooting), Vijender Singh's Bronze (Boxing), and Sushil Kumar's Bronze medal (Wrestling) in the same edition.

Read Also: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

2012: Six Medals and India's Olympic Rise

The 2012 London Olympics was a truly historic moment for India. For the first time ever, India secured six individual medals in a single Olympic edition, that too in five different sports. This was not just a jump in numbers, but a clear rise for India in the Olympic Games.

Here, take a closer look at the medalists:

Gagan Narang: Bronze Medal in Shooting

Gagan Narang won India's first medal at London 2012, taking bronze in the men's 10m Air Rifle event with a final score of 701.1. He opened the medal books for India in this historic edition.

Sushil Kumar: Silver medal in Wrestling

Sushil Kumar became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals (previously in 2008), securing silver in the men's 66kg freestyle wrestling after a hard-fought tournament.

Saina Nehwal: Bronze medal in Badminton

Saina Nehwal earned India's first-ever Olympic medal in Badminton, securing a bronze in Women's singles. With this victory, she also became the second woman, after Malleswari, to win a medal at the grandest stage.

Yogeshwar Dutt: Bronze medal in Wrestling

Yogeshwar Dutt overcame injuries and fought through brilliantly in the men's 60kg freestyle wrestling to secure a bronze medal.

Mary Kom: Bronze medal in Boxing

In the debut of women's boxing at the Olympics, Mary Kom won a bronze in the flyweight (51kg) category, making her the first Indian woman boxer to achieve this milestone.

Vijay Kumar: Silver medal in Shooting

Vijay Kumar clinched silver in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, finishing behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo.

Read Also: Olympic Athletes to Watch in LA 2028 from India

2016-2024: Sustaining the momentum in India's modern Olympic era

India has consistently built upon its Olympic success since 2012, with athletes dominating in different categories of sports. The period from 2016 to 2024 has seen new talents emerge and solidify India's rise on the global stage.

India, a nation with a rich history and diverse culture, has made significant strides in the world of sports over the years. While cricket often dominates the headlines, India’s achievements in the Olympic Games have also brought huge pride to the country. From the early days of independence to recent successes, Indian athletes have showed their talent and determination on the grandest stage of all – the Olympics.

Also Read: 10 Indian Women Who Made Olympic History

In this article, we will take a look at some of best Indian performances in Olympic history.

Best Indian Performances in Olympic History

10. Karnam Malleswari – Bronze Medal in Weightlifting (2000 Sydney Olympics)

Karnam Malleswari’s bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics was a historic achievement for India, as she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.

Competing in the 69 kg weight category, Malleswari lifted a total of 240 kg (110 kg in snatch and 130 kg in clean and jerk) to secure the bronze medal. She is also the first Indian weightlifter (male or female) to win an Olympic medal.

9. Lovlina Borgohain | Bronze, Boxing (Tokyo 2020, Welterweight)

At Tokyo 2020, Lovlina Borgohain won bronze in the women’s welterweight category (69kg) to become the third Indian boxer with an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of Mary Kom and Vijender Singh.

With an Olympic bronze and gold medals at the world and Asian championships, Lovlina Borgohain has carried forward the legacy of women in Indian boxing that was founded by the legendary Mary Kom.

8. Ravi Dahiya | Silver, Wrestling (Tokyo 2020, 57kg)

Ravi Kumar Dahiya clinched silveredal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With it, the then 23-year-old Ravi is the sixth Indian wrestler to win a medal at the Games and only the second to bag a silver after Sushil Kumar.

Ravi fell short of winning an Olympic gold medal following a 7-4 loss to Zaur Uguev of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

7. Sushil Kumar | Bronze (Beijing 2008), Silver (London 2012), Wrestling

Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar has never let the odds slow him down. A three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a former World Wrestling Championships winner, Sushil Kumar earned most of his stripes defying the odds on the back of his iron will. And, perhaps, the best case studies of his dogged perseverance are Sushil Kumar’s Olympic medals – a bronze at the 2008 Beijing and a silver at the 2012 London Games.

While the London silver put him in the history books as the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals, the bronze at Beijing was a significant milestone for Indian wrestling as a whole.

6. PV Sindhu | Silver (Rio 2016) & Bronze (Tokyo 2020), Badminton

PV Sindhu is the first woman from India ever to become a double Olympic medallist.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Sindhu put in a spirited fight in the final but ultimately ended up with the silver medal, a monumental effort that brought the world and India to its feet. Four years later, Sindhu left Tokyo 2020 having carved out a slice of history for her own by winning the bronze medal match against China's He Bing Jiao.

Also Read: Most medals by an Indian in a single Olympics

5. Leander Paes | Bronze, Tennis Singles (Atlanta 1996)

Leander Paes created history after beating Brazilian Fernando Meligeni in the men’s singles bronze medal match in the Atlanta Olympics 1996. It was India’s first Olympic tennis medal and the first individual medal after 44 years.

What made the victory even more special is the fact that Leander Paes battled through a serious wrist injury, sustained during his semi-final clash against Andre Agassi, to claim his place in Indian sports’ hall of fame.

4. Mirabai Chanu | Silver, Weightlifting (Tokyo 2020, 49kg)

Indian weightlifting ace Mirabai Chanu won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The then 26-year-old managed a total lift of 202 kgs (87kgs in snatch + 115 kgs in clean and jerk) to finish behind the Olympic champion Hou Zhihui of China, who set an Olympic record with a lift of 210 kgs (94+116). 

Mirabai Chanu’s win comes two decades after Indian trailblazer Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. Competing at the 2000 Sydney Games, the Malleswari ace won a bronze medal in the women’s 69kg weight category.

3. Indian Men’s Hockey Team | Gold (Amsterdam 1928 to Tokyo 1980, 8 Golds)

India’s dominance in field hockey during the early 20th century is one of the most remarkable chapters in Olympic history. The Indian hockey team has won eight Olympic gold medals in all, six of them in a row (from 1928-1956) and added two more at Tokyo 1964 and Moscow 1980.

In the Paris 2024 Games, the team finished with a bronze for their first successive medals at the Olympics since Munich 1972. 

2. Abhinav Bindra | Gold, 10m Air Rifle (Beijing 2008)

Abhinav Bindra will forever hold a place in sporting history as India's first individual gold medallist at the Olympics. A near-perfect 10.8 on his last shot in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at the Beijing 2008 Olympics helped the then 25-year-old Abhinav Bindra become an Olympic champion.

Before Bindra India had won eight Olympic gold medals, all of which came in men’s field hockey (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980).

Also Read: Olympic Athletes to Watch in LA 2028 from India

1. Neeraj Chopra | Gold, Javelin Throw (Tokyo 2020)

Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 87.58m. It was India’s first-ever Olympic medal in athletics and the realisation of a long-standing dream - one which legends like Milkha Singh and PT Usha had also chased but fallen short of by agonisingly narrow margins.

Moreover, Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo crown was India’s second individual gold medal at the Summer Games after Abhinav Bindra’s shooting title at Beijing 2008.