The surge in popularity of Indian Badminton may be attributed to the likes of Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, two global superstars. India and badminton have a long history together, and the game has greatly contributed to India’s rise to prominence worldwide. The popularity of the sport is credited with India’s recent success at the Olympics, where elite shuttlers have won medals in the previous three editions. The first Indian to earn an Olympic medal was Saina Nehwal in 2012; PV Sindhu followed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, taking home silver and bronze respectively.
History of badminton in India
- Although its exact beginnings are unknown, badminton has been referenced in historical documents from Greece, China, and ancient India.
- The game’s indigenous form was introduced to the sport by British army officials in the 1860s, while the sport itself dates back to India, in about 1874.
- British colonists in India created the first unofficial set of badminton rules in 1867.
- In southern India, there was a popular form of the game called ball badminton, which used woollen balls. In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort brought badminton to England, naming it ‘the Badminton Game’ after his house, the Badminton House.
- Rapid growth in the sport’s popularity led to the Bath Badminton Club laying the groundwork for contemporary badminton.
- India became a member of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) when it was founded in 1934.
- With the addition of men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, and women’s doubles competitions in 1996, badminton made its debut at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona in 1992.
Iconic Indian badminton players over the years
- India has a long history in badminton, having produced several well-known players who have elevated the sport to a worldwide level.
- The first Indian to achieve #1 in the global rankings for men’s badminton was Prakash Padukone, who also happened to be the first to win the All England Open Badminton Championships in 1980.
- With Padukone as her coach, Pullela Gopichand won the 2001 All England and helped to mould the future generation of Indian badminton stars.
- India’s first-ever Olympic medallist, Saina Nehwal, placed third in the women’s singles competition at the London 2012 Olympics.
- Five years younger than Nehwal, PV Sindhu made history in 2019 by being the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Olympics and the first Indian ever to win a gold medal at the BWF World Championships.
- Since Pullela Gopichand’s retirement, Kidambi Srikanth has emerged as India’s best male badminton player, winning three BWF Grand Prix titles and six BWF Superseries.
- Andhra Pradesh, a state renowned for producing excellent badminton players, is home to the majority of India’s outstanding badminton players.
Indian Olympic Medalist in Badminton
- Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal advanced from the Beijing 2008 quarter finals to win the bronze medal in the London 2012 Olympics.
- Over the following four years, she emerged victorious in several competitions, such as the Asian and Commonwealth Games championships.
- The first badminton player from India to place on the Olympic podium was Nehwal.
- The 21-year-old shuttler PV Sindhu defeated Laura Sarosi and Michelle Li to open Rio 2016 on a strong note.
- She then went up against eventual world champion Tai Tzu-Ying, but she was able to make it to the quarterfinals.
- At the Olympics, Sindhu emerged as the most successful badminton player from India, defeating Nozomi Okuhara in the semifinals and taking home the silver medal.
- Sindhu qualified for the women’s singles at Tokyo 2020 when the COVID-19 outbreak caused the event to be postponed.
- After defeating Ksenia Polikarpova and Cheung Ngan Yi to top her group, she faced Tai Tzu-Ying in the semifinals. But in the last round, Sindhu succumbed to the world’s top player, Tai Tzu.
Badminton Olympic winners of India: Second round and beyond
- With noteworthy triumphs in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, badminton has advanced significantly in the Olympics.
- In Barcelona, Madhumita Bisht made it to the second round while former national champion Deepankar Bhattacharya went to the third round. Bhattacharya’s second Atlanta 1996 appearance ended in the second round, and PVV Lakshmi won her first but lost her second match in the women’s singles bracket.
- In Beijing in 2008, Saina Nehwal became the first Indian to go to the quarterfinals, and in London in 2012, her husband Parupalli Kashyap reached the same stage.
Conclusion
The success of two international superstars, Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, has helped badminton become more popular in India. British immigrants brought the sport to the United States in the 1860s, and it has a rich history that dates back to 1874. India debuted at the Summer Olympics in 1992 and became a member of the International Badminton Federation in 1934. Prominent athletes from India include Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, Pullela Gopichand, and Prakash Padukone.
