Generational shift on badminton court? The sport is flooded with talent

The signs were all there. All you had to do was pay attention. The dip in a stalwart’s form, a federation’s desire to move on, the emergence of younger talent — self-preservation versus natural selection.

Asked to participate in the national trials for selection into the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games badminton team, Saina Nehwal declined, citing a packed schedule and bad timing as reasons for her sitting out and protecting herself for the season. Nehwal has blamed those in charge for her absence.

“As a senior player,” Saina Nehwal reasoned on Twitter, “to participate in back to back events nonstop is impossible and it’s risking injuries. Such short notice is not possible. I’ve conveyed this to BAI (Badminton Association of India) but there has been no response from them. It seems like they’re happy to put me out…” 

It was a plea for public backing, one met swiftly. A deluge of support — citing her past achievements as proof of her ability for the future, while lambasting the federation for an unfair view of the world — has followed. BAI has, however, confirmed it won’t make any exceptions for Nehwal.

“The badminton season is always choc-a-bloc,” a senior coach said, asking not to be named. “The calendar is stuffed and it is very restrictive. But this is how it is. If you are ranked high, then you don’t have to go through trials. But if you drop the rankings, then you are back in the pit.”

The case for a merit-based sporting system has long grated Indian sports’ seniority-based system. Nehwal isn’t the first big Indian athlete to feel this pinch and won’t be the last. BAI awarded direct entry into the events for players ranked in the top 15 in the world according to the rankings list released on March 29 — Nehwal was 23rd.

A former coach told PTI on condition of anonymity that while Nehwal had achieved a lot for the country, her lack of success over the past two years counted against her. “She has also not been able to sort out of injury issues.”

A combination of factors has contributed to the slips. Injuries, a lack of court success and screen time (Nehwal did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics last year) have seen her brand image slide swiftly. Despite a biopic (Saina, with Parineeti Chopra playing the badminton star) being released last year, Nehwal’s endorsements and advertisements have shrunk in size. 

In contrast, compatriot PV Sindhu’s list of achievements has grown further and further (see box). In the circuit, Nehwal was always known as the dogged, fiercely resisting, consistent warrior. Her rise to World No 1 in 2015 (a feat no other Indian woman has achieved) was proof of evidence of this fact. Sindhu, by contrast, was always a big match player, all touch and finesse, goal oriented towards the big tournaments.

Consider the stats: Sindhu has medalled at both Olympics she played, and has medalled in all but two World Championships in her career. 

It has been a decade since Nehwal’s bronze at the London Olympics opened doors for Indian badminton in ways unprecedented. She was single-handedly responsible for a huge number of endorsements, sponsorships and funding pouring into the sport. 

Indian badminton’s mainstream success must, in many ways, be credited to her success. Its grassroots, too.

The sport is flooded with talent today. At the India Open earlier this year, Nehwal was beaten in by 20-year-old Malvika Bansod — only the second Indian after Sindhu to do so on the international circuit. Bansod was unequivocal about who she idolised growing up, the woman whose poster adorned her bedroom in her teens. “She’s (Nehwal) the reason why I took up badminton”. 

Ranked 65th in the world, Bansod upset the World No 24, Yue Han, at the Korea Open earlier this month — firmly establishing herself among the rotating cast of “third best Indian woman player” and “heir apparent”. At the trials currently underway in Delhi, Bansod has remained unbeaten through the group games, one among a group of youngsters vying for a chance to fill a legend’s shoes. Nehwal’s absence may not be felt in Delhi’s KD Jadhav indoor stadium’s halls themselves, where the trials will be held, but its repercussions might just benefit Indian badminton over time.

Brand Nehwal to Brand Sindhu

In her heyday, Nehwal’s brand endorsements included Flipkart, Herbalife, Yonex (her apparel partner from the start), Kellogg’s and Huawei. Her glut of endorsements leaked on to compatriots, who have benefited hugely from experience.

Earlier this year, PV Sindhu was ranked No 7 in Forbes’ list of top 10 highest paid women athletes in the world — and India’s highest paid woman sportsperson. Sindhu’s total earnings were listed at $7.2 million for 2021 — she also featured in the list in 2018 (at No 7) with total earnings of $8.5 million. The list was topped by tennis star Naomi Osaka.? 

Since the Tokyo Olympics, Sindhu has added four new sponsors to her roster, which include the ed-tech giant Byju’s, used-car platform Spinny, sportswear brand Li-Ning and Bank of Baroda.