Paris Olympics: How have Olympic-bound Indian badminton players performed in last 4 years
The Summer Olympics are scheduled to commence on July 26, 2024 in Paris. The Indian contingent is prepared and determined to make history at this momentous occasion. Badminton has played a significant role in India's historical development. They aim to achieve Olympic gold this year. Now, let's examine their performance up to this point.
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Paris Olympics: How Have Olympic-Bound Indian Badminton Players Performed in the Last 4 Years?
With five slots guaranteed by elite players including the well-known PV Sindhu, the path to the Paris 2024 Olympics represents a major chapter for Indian badminton. Based on the "Race to Paris" Ranking List released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), these players have shown admirable results over the previous four years, therefore highlighting their abilities and tenacity on international scene.
PV Sindhu: Women's Singles
Former world champion PV Sindhu has been a lighthouse of brilliance for Indian badminton. She grabbed a bronze in Tokyo 2020 and a silver medal at Rio Olympics in 2016. Her constant success over the past four years guarantees her place for Paris since she ranked 12th in the "Race to Paris". Sindhu is among the top athletes in the sport since 2019 thanks to notable wins and podium performances in several major events.
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen: Men's Singles
In men's singles, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen have shown to be strong rivals. Ranked 9th in the "Race to Paris" ranking, Prannoy and Sen, 13th respectively, have guaranteed their places for Paris 2024. Prannoy's accomplishments at the Commonwealth Games, when he won the title, clearly display his tenacity and ability. Young genius Lakshya Sen has quickly climbed the ranks, making noteworthy marks in international events including a bronze medal in the World Championships 2021.
Men's Doubles: Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
In men's doubles, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have been outstanding. Third on the "Race to Paris" list, they created history by being the first-ever Indian doubles pair to reach the world number one ranking after their gold medal triumph at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year. Their regular performance in several events has made them a strong force in doubles badminton.
Women's Doubles: Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto
Completing 13th in the rankings, the women's doubles team of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto has also guaranteed a place for Paris. Winning victories in the Abu Dhabi Masters and Guwahati Masters, Ashwini and Crasto finished runner-up at the Syed Modi International BWF Super 300 event. Their climb in the rankings has been much aided by their smart play and court chemistry.
Indian Badminton's Historic Legacy
World-class players have long been produced in Indian badminton. By winning esteemed championships like the All England Open, legends like Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand set high standards. Inspired another generation of shuttlers by Saina Nehwal, the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton, and PV Sindhu, the first Indian to become a badminton World Champion.
Indian Badminton Players' Performance
| Player | Discipline | Best Ranking | Olympic Medals | World Championship Medals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saina Nehwal | Women's Singles | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| PV Sindhu | Women's Singles | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Prakash Padukone | Men's Singles | 1 | - | 1 |
| Srikanth Kidambi | Men's Singles | 1 | - | 1 |
| Lakshya Sen | Men's Singles | 6 | - | 1 |
| HS Prannoy | Men's Singles | 6 | - | 1 |
| B. Sai Praneeth | Men's Singles | 10 | - | 1 |
| Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty | Men's Doubles | 1 | - | 1 |
| Jwala Gutta & V. Diju | Mixed Doubles | 6 | - | - |
| Jwala Gutta & Ashwini Ponnappa | Women's Doubles | 10 | - | 1 |
India is poised to provide one of its biggest badminton contingents at the Paris 2024 Olympics after these quotas have been guaranteed. India's previous time with such notable presence was at the Rio 2016 Olympics. With their mix of experience and youth, the present crop of players is ready to have a significant effect and maybe bring home more medals, thereby advancing India's badminton heritage.
For Indian badminton enthusiasts, the forthcoming Paris Olympics seems to be an interesting event with great expectations for these gifted shuttlers to provide outstanding performance and improve the country's reputation in the game.
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