Indian Badminton star P.V Sindhu won her 3rd Tournament of the year. She defeated PR China's Wang Zhi Yi in a 58-minute-long Singapore Open 2022 final match. The final score was 21-9, 11-21, 21-15.
It was Saina Nehwal in 2010 when she had become the first-ever Indian woman to win the title. Now, with this victory, the 2-time Olympic medalist has become the second Indian woman to clinch the title.
Sindhu started the match well against the current Asian Champion Wang Zhi Yi. The first game was an easy affair for her. Although everyone was expecting a great fight from the start of the match, Sindhu's rally and drop shots were found to be good enough for the Indians to go 1-0 up in the match.
However, the current Asian champion was never someone to let the match go easily as she fought her way back into the match. Sindhu looked below average as the second game of the Singapore Open 2022 went to Wang Zhi Yi. The Asian Champion had 6 consecutive points in the game as well.
In the final and third game of the match, the fans saw some terrific shuttling as both the players went toe to toe against each other. Once, Sindhu, had a 5 points lead in the game. However, Wang pulled the advantage back to 2 for Sindhu. But Sindhu's determination and long rallies were making the Chinese hover around the court. Then few smashes into the corners of the court were good enough for the Indian Badminton star to win her 18th Career-Title.
Post-match Sindhu said she is very happy that she won her first Super 500. However, she is now focusing on Commonwealth Games and would love to finish on the podium there as well.
24 medals for India at Japan Para Badminton International 2024
India concluded their campaign at the Japan Para Badminton International 2024 in Tokyo, with 24 medals, including six gold, nine silver, and nine bronze.
When the exclusion of badminton from the 2026 Commonwealth Games feels like unhealed pain for Indian badminton fans, the shuttles shine at the Japan ParaBadmintonInternational 2024 in Tokyo. India concluded their campaign with 24medals, including six gold, nine silver, and nine bronze.
Sivarajan Solaimalai defeated Chun Yim Wong of Hong Kong in straight games (21-16, 21-16), thus winning the gold medal in the men's single SH6 category.
Manisha Ramadass clinched the gold medal by defeating Japan's Mamiko Toyoda by 21-12, 21-18 in the SU5 women's singles category.
Sukant Kadam, however, defeated his contemporary Indian Tarun Dhillon by 21-12, 21-10 to win the gold in the SL4 Men's Singles Category.
Naveen Sivakumar and Surya Kant won the bronze medals.
Upset For Paralympic Champion Nitesh Kumar at the Japan ParaBadmintonInternational 2024
Japan's Fujihara Daisuke defeated Nitesh Kumar in a thrilling three-game contest in the final, with Kumar winning just one in the middle. The scoreboard says 16-21, 21-18, 19-21. Nitesh had to settle for silver
Hardik Makkar too received a silver medal after being defeated by Japan's Taio by 5-21, 19-21 in the SU5 Men's single final. Ruthik Raghupati won a bronze medal in this category.
The other silver came after Coraline Bergeron of France defeated Neeraj in the women's singles SL3 category final.
Hardik who failed in the SU5 Men's single, partnered with Ruthik and won gold by defeating the Indo-Polish duo Dev Rathi and Bartlomiej Mroz.
Umesh Vikram Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav won the gold medal in the SL3-SL4 men's double category by defeating their fellow Indians Sukant Kadam and Dinesh Rajaiah 21-5, 20-22, 21-16.
In the D SH6 category, Sudarsan Saravanakumar Mutusamy and Sivarajan Solaimalai won the gold medal.
Commonwealth Games 2026: A trailer for permanent shut down?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 faces rejections from Victoria, Australia, and Malaysia due to overwhelming costs, with Glasgow grabbing the opportunity, reducing it to a 10-discipline event.
On Tuesday, the organizers of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 confirmed that only 10 sports will be played in limited venues to keep the finances in check.
A previously proposed event, that had a minimum of 20 disciplines was reduced to half, which has sparked disappointments amongst many Indians. The reason is quite simple. The Indian-dominated sports like badminton, hockey, cricket, and weightlifting have been axed.
Not only that, a sport like squash, which gets major highlights in the CWG due to its absence in the Olympics, has been eliminated.
The IOA (Indian Olympics Association) president, PT Usha, too expressed her despondency towards the decision. But, why?
The point is, how relevant are "Commonwealth Games," previously known as "British Empire Games," in a decolonized era?
The Idea behind Commonwealth Games
A brainchild of revered Canadian sportswriter and editor Melville Marks Robinson, the Commonwealth Games had its origin in 1930, bearing an essence of still-accepted colonialism. A total of 54 countries, who were once colonies of the British Empire, participated in this event.
The 2022 version, however, saw 72 nations participating.
Inspired by the 1911 Inter Empire Championships, this unique event has been hosted across nine countries. Australia and Canada lead with five editions each.
Standing in 2024, when the phrase "third-world country" seems nonexistent, who would ever succumb to the pre-established boot-licking attitude toward the English, that too spending some billion dollars for hosting?
Finance definitely raises eyebrows, but the motto it has been carrying for so long should come into question, even in countries like India.
U-turn from Australia to Glasgow
Australia, a country that has hosted the event at least five times, has denied hosting it. Initially, it was Victoria's assignment to conduct the event. However, the arrangement costs skyrocketed from an estimated Aus$2 billion to an alarming Aus$7 billion.
Premier Daniel Andrews, in the press conference in Melbourne, clearly stated that he would never dare to pluck in a huge sum from the funds of hospitals and schools for a sporting event.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) scrambled to find a replacement, offering Malaysia£100 million to step in. Even with such a hefty financial contribution, Malaysia turned down the offer, citing insufficient preparation time and the prohibitive costs of hosting the event.
Even Canada's Alberta province last year withdrew its support for a bid for the 2030 Games.
Financial Suffering
The rejections have somehow brought in a raw, uncut picture to the world. The sentiments, accompanied by the suffering, take a long time to recover.
Countries are unwilling to foot the massive bill for an event, even when provided with financial assistance. The event brings in little to no economic return and dwindling global interest.
The Commonwealth Games, which seemed like a prestigious event, has been a burden — a relic of the past whose significance is diminishing in a world with far more pressing priorities.
Glasgow steps in
Following the repeated rejections, there was a point when the Commonwealth Games future looked uncertain for the 2026 version. Countries backing out brought clouds of a postponed tournament before its centenary year in 2030.
At that point, Glasgow stepped in. Glasgow had its experience of hosting a CWG, as it did in 2014. This time, it made the event easy.
Glasgow decided to host a severely pared-down version of the CWG in 2026, with 4 venues in an 8-mile radius. Not only that, the number of participants will also be restricted.
Birmingham's Commonwealth Games: A Legacy of Financial Strain?
Birmingham stepped up to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games when Durban withdrew, promising a grand event to boost the city. However, financial issues soon arose, leading to political tension and public concern.
Max Caller, former adviser to Birmingham City Council, called the decision to host the Games "a mistake" amidst longstanding financial problems. Hosting the event diverted attention from the council’s critical issues, including a £760 million bill for equal pay claims and a botched IT system that may cost £100 million to fix.
While the Games were an "amazing event," their financial aftermath sparked debates, with citizens worried about budget cuts affecting essential services. Community centres, libraries, and even the famed German Christmas Market could face closures as the council struggles with bankruptcy.
But is finance the real concern?
India had hosted the 2010 CWG, followed by financial turmoil in the country. It took years for the country to overcome. India has now successfully bid for the Olympics 2036.
Hosting the Olympics has also led to never-ending financial scars for many countries. Athens is a prominent name in that.
But yet, countries hardly step back to host it. Is it really the finances or the pride that pushes them to bid for the Olympics?
Will India suffer from the reduction?
In the idealistic world of sport, India shouldn't. In such a situation, the question comes: how relevant is CWG to the sporting world?
With the rising popularity of the Asian Games that have dominated countries like China and the Olympics, which is the oldest and largest form of multidisciplinary sports event, CWG falls short in both glamour and relevance.
The limited exposure giving year-old consolation to the country with an "international medal" has been falling short repeatedly in the Olympics. The count of CWG medalist athletes who have earned a medal in the Olympics is relatively low. A Mirabai Chanu, a PV Sindhu, or a NeerajChopra is countable.
When at one corner, it is justified to be upset knowing that Indian dominance has been restricted, then at the other corner, another question gets tossed—why does India need going-to-be-abolished events to prove its excellence?
India, which takes pride in being a sporting excellence and a country that tried to push cricket hard in the Olympics, should think if it's really dominant or not.
Does Commonwealth participation assure greatness?
Usain Bolt, at his peak point in his career, decided to participate only in the 4x100m relay in Glasgow (2014). Not only that, he was nowhere in New Delhi (2010) too, despite India's desperate request to have him.
Sir Chris Hoy, too, stayed away from the Delhi games because a win wouldn't have added any decorated feather to his already stellar career.
In the harshest reality, a hundred medals won't assure at least 50 medals in the Asian Games itself. Olympics are out of reach!
Medal tally for India in CWG, in its popular sport
Indian Badminton players struggle with the slow court: Here is why
Indian Badminton players even after dominating in the Asian countries fail repeatedly in countries like Europe and Olympic stages. What can be the underlying problem?
The contemporary Indian Badminton has so far gained the popularity in its country. However, certain issues need to be resolved. The biggest concern lies in the shuttlers facing a different environment in the non-Asian Countries. The major problem they face is the thick and slower court.
This issue had made India short of many assured medals by whiskers. Be it peak Kidambi Srikanth missing his World Title in 2017 to Reddy-Shetty failing in big tournaments.
How do Indian and Asian Courts differ from European Courts?
The Asian Summers
Speaking about the weather in the Asian summers, it is humid. The Asian stadia provide full on air-conditioned courts for athletes.
Air-conditioned rooms are marked favorable for shuttles, as the shuttles fly faster here. Here are the reasons:
Lower air density: Air conditioning reduces temperature and humidity, resulting in denser air with fewer air molecules. This decrease in air resistance allows shuttlecocks to travel faster.
Reduced air turbulence: Air conditioning systems circulate and filter the air, minimizing turbulence and air pockets that can slow down the shuttlecock.
Consistent airflow: Air conditioning maintains a consistent airflow, reducing unpredictable air currents that can affect shuttlecock trajectory.
Lower humidity: Dry air reduces the shuttlecock's drag coefficient, enabling it to fly faster.
This helps the athletes to maintain faster rallies and increased smashes with an attacking play. The also helps them to read the speed and work on their reaction time'
Added to this, the enhthralling supporters add more fuel to the pagddlers when tired.
European winters
European winters contradics the humid weather. Unlike the windy weather here, the air feels cal, slow and still.
Slow and still air significantly impacts shuttlers' performance, technique, and strategy. it included different physical challenges along with rectified techniques and strategies.
The challanges a shuttler faces due to these conditions are as follows:
Reduced shuttlecock speed: Slower reactions, less power.
Increased drag: Shuttles dip and drop unexpectedly.
Unpredictable trajectory: Difficulty judging distance and direction.
Fatigue: Players expend more energy to generate power.
However, these are the "negetives" bigger stages like Olympics, offer.
Slow court, A Bane to the Shuttlers
Here are some instances when paddles were denied their crown due to the courts' behaviour.
2017 Kidambi Srikanth, a fast court specialist in India missed his Worlds Title in the slow Glaswegian conditions. The slow pitch defied from the title as the Korean Son Wan-ho defeated him in the quarterfinal.
Tanvi Patri, a 13 year old rookie got defeated in Thailand's sluggish pitch last December. The thick air denied her speed, showing a red alert that she needs to gain some strength.
And the most discussed duo- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty. Right now, Reddy-Shetty is the finest doubles player in Indian Badminton periphery. Reddy still has his world fastest smash of 493km/hr. Even then, this duo cannot assert full power in slow court. And thus, they lost a few of the most serious and well-deserved titles.
Demands of Sluggish Pitches
Slow and still air significantly impacts shuttlers' performance, techniques, and strategies. Someone who was been trained on faster courts will find it difficult to adapt to the conditions if exposed.
The shuttles face certain physical changes that are listed below:
Reduced shuttlecock speed: Slower reactions, less power.
Increased drag: Shuttles dip and drop unexpectedly.
Unpredictable trajectory: Difficulty judging distance and direction.
Fatigue: Players expend more energy to generate power.
An athlete thus needs to make a few technical adjustments to combat the challenges.
Slower stroke speed: Compensate for reduced shuttlecock speed.
Increased wristwork: Generate power and control.
Softer touches: Reduce shuttlecock's descent.
More spin: Control shuttlecock trajectory.
The strategic changes include:
Patient play: Waiting for opportunities to attack.
Defensive focus: Exploiting opponents' struggles.
Net play: Using precise, soft shots.
Angle play: Creating sharp angles to disrupt opponents.
Effects on a few notable Shots:
Smashes: Less effective due to reduced power.
Clear shots: More difficult to execute.
Drops: Harder to control.
Slow Court? Not an Issue!
Not an old story when Lakshya Sen lost to Victor Axelsen in the Olympics semi-final. Slower Courts like that in Europe, especially in stages like Olympics demand patience and exquisite footwork, with strong defence. Lakshya had his defence in the checklist, but his footwork was still a sore in his throat. The Denmark giant was a set ahead when Lakshya fought but lost to nerves.
The bronze medal match had all these including his exposed injury in his smashing hand. The defence he has can aid in this condition but muscular opponents are still a challange to him.
The other veteran on court H.S. Pranoy is a clever lad with versatile techniques. He has got his techniques handy to combat the sluggishness. He thus not only won in Malaysia, but has a Worlds medal round his neck.
Two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhuwith her blazing power heft and work rate till 2019, defies these challanging conditions. The Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal with her sturdy power smash overshadowed her limitations in court coverage capabilities.
Indian Approach
India has a love for stroke-making. Even though it is aesthetically pleasing, it question the practicality in World Badminton.
With the October ticks in, the Europe session starts. The badminton camp then comes back and does a wide India-hoping, visiting smallcities playing number of tournaments! But how that that judge their efficiency in slow courts!
The slow courts host a major number of important international tournaments. With India not getting enough time their will never expire the frustration of them not getting medals.
Rookies like Priyanshu Rajawat will depend more on strokeplays like his ancestor Srikant used todo. Not failing the later, Rajawat will succumb to frustrating errors, missing points. Srikant had Son Wan-ho, but Rajawat will have way more equipped opponents- Kunlavut Vitidsarn and of Kodai Naraoka.
Its high time for Indian to spend more time on slow courts, count quality over quantity, in order to not miss any well deserved title in fututre,
BAI to give Rs 50 lakh cash rewards to Paris Paralympics 2024 medalists
Indian para-badminton players had won a total of five medals including one gold, two silver, and two bronze at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Gold medallists will be rewarded ₹15 lakh, while the silver medal winners will receive ₹10 lakh.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced a total cash award of Rs 50 lakh for the country's para-badminton players who won medals in the Paris Paralympics 2024 last month.
Indian para-badminton players had won a total of five medals including one gold, two silver, and two bronze at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Nitesh Kumar, who won gold in the men's singles SL3 category, will get a prize of Rs 15 lakh. Silver medalists Suhas Yathiraj (men's singles SL4) and Thulasimathi Murugesan (women's singles SU5) will be given Rs 10 lakh each.
Bronze medal winners Manisha Ramadass (women's singles SU5) and Nithya Sre Sivan (women's singles SH6 category) will get Rs 7 lakh 50 thousand each. Thulasimathi, Manisha and Nithya created history by becoming the first Indian female badminton players to win a medal in the Paralympics.
BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra said, “Indian Para badminton players have been performing consistently on the world stage and the cash rewards are just one way for BAI to recognise their efforts in helping the country win medals at the Paralympics.”
“BAI is committed to developing and promoting para-badminton across the country and helping these players achieve much more success and many more initiatives to develop para-badminton are being undertaken,” He added.
In view of the players' busy tournament schedule, BAI will also organize a virtual interaction session with these players to congratulate them and understand their requirements for continued development.
PV Sindhu set to begin BWF campaign through Arctic Open
29-year-old PV Sindhu will be eyeing an end to her two-year-long title drought when she competes in the Arctic Open Super 500 Badminton tournament next month. She last won the Singapore Open tournament in 2022.
Leaving behind the disappointing campaign of the Paris Olympics 2024, veteran Indian female shuttler PV Sindhu is desperate to make a comeback on the badminton court after two months. Now Sindhu will compete in the Arctic Open BWF Super 500 tournament to be held in Finland from 8 to 13 October.
The two-time Olympic medalist has now shifted from Bengaluru to Hyderabad to train with Anup Sridhar. Earlier she was taking training from Prakash Padukone in Bengaluru. Currently, Anup will train PV Sindhu in Hyderabad and will also go to Finland with her.
During Sindhu's campaign in Europe, where she will also compete in the Denmark Open (October 15-20), Sridhar will be accompanying her. Sridhar will also oversee Sindhu's campaign during Asian tour events like Korea, Kumamoto and China Masters.
Returned home empty handed in Paris
Indian star shuttler may not have won a medal in Paris, but her next goal has been decided. Actually, Sindhu won silver medal in 2016 Rio Olympics and bronze medal in 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This happened for the first time in the Paris Games when Sindhu returned to the country without a medal. Her journey ended in the quarter finals itself.
29-year-old PV Sindhu will be eyeing an end to her two-year-long title drought when she competes in the Arctic Open Super 500 next month. She last won the Singapore Open tournament in 2022. She is currently at number 14 in the world ranking. Sindhu has no intention of retiring. Her next target is Asian Games 2026.
However, playing in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 will depend on her fitness. Sindhu will turn 33 by the Los Angeles Olympics. It is not easy to win an Olympic medal at the age of 33 in a sport like badminton.