Badminton

Indonesia Open: Sindhu crashes out after loss to World No. 1 An Se Young

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu suffered a second successive defeat to world No. 1 An Se Young in as many weeks to bow out of the Indonesia Open here on Thursday. Sindhu, who had also lost to the South Korean in the quarterfinals of last week's Singapore Open, showed spark but only in patches to go down 17-21, 14-21 in the round of 16 clash. The defeat extended Sindhu's losing streak against the reigning Olympic champion to 10 matches. The Indian is yet to register a win over An. The contest began on an even footing, with the scores locked at 10-10 midway through the opening game as Sindhu showcased glimpses of her best form and managed to put the Korean under pressure at times. She briefly edged ahead at 15-14 with some aggressive strokeplay, but An responded in trademark fashion, reeling off a series of points to take a 19-16 lead. The Korean then won two consecutive points, including a gruelling 41-shot rally, to seal the opening game. An carried that momentum into the se

Satwik-Chirag Singapore Open win boosts India's Asian Games 2026 hopes

Satwik and Chirag's win has not only ended their two-year-long wait for a trophy but also made them the first Indian pair to win the men's doubles event of the tournament

Indian shuttlers react after muted response to bronze medal in Thomas Cup

Senior players Chirag Shetty and HS Prannoy said the lack of public awareness and celebration around the achievement reflected the challenges non-cricket sports still face

Lakshya Sen ruled out of Thomas Cup semifinal vs France due to injury

India will be without the services of Lakshya Sen during their semifinal clash against France in the Thomas Cup Finals as he is recovering from a swollen right elbow. The 24-year-old Lakshya had saved two match points to script an 18-21 22-20 21-17 victory over world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen in a marathon clash lasting one hour and 28 minutes, as India notched up a commanding 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals. However, the Commonwealth Games champion hurt his elbow while diving for a shot during an intense rally. "Lakshya is dealing with a swollen playing arm, particularly around the elbow, after his fall in yesterday's match against Chou Tien Chen. He is also struggling with blisters on his feet," former India coach and his mentor Vimal Kumar told PTI. With Lakshya unavailable, young Ayush Shetty will play the opening singles against world No. 4 Christo Popov, who had defeated the Indian in their only meeting at the Hylo Open in 2024. World No. 30 Kidambi Srikanth, who

Thomas Cup 2026: Lakshya-Ayush star as India down Chinese Taipei 3-0 in Q/F

India will now face the winner of the France vs. Japan quarterfinal in the semifinals

Lakshya, Sindhu spearhead India's campaign at Badminton Asia Championships

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have withdrawn from the Badminton Asia Championships due to the former's shoulder injury, even as in-form Lakshya Sen and seasoned PV Sindhu gear up to spearhead India's challenge with an aim to end a long wait for a singles title in the continental showpiece. Satwik and Chirag, who had won the title in 2023, opted out as the former continues to recover. "Satwik still has some pain, so they won't be playing this week," coach Tan Kim Her told PTI. The duo had earlier pulled out of the Swiss Open ahead of their quarterfinal match due to a recurring right shoulder injury to Satwik. India will now rely on Lakshya and Sindhu in singles, with both looking to end the country's 61-year wait for a title in the discipline. Former national champion Dinesh Khanna remains the only Indian to win the men's singles gold at the continental meet in 1965, and Lakshya will be keen to follow in his footsteps after a runner-up finish at the All England ...

Rio Olympic champion Carolina Marin announces retirement from badminton

One of badminton's all-time greats, Carolina Marin on Thursday announced her retirement due to a persistent knee injury, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career that has an Olympic gold medal and three World Championship titles. In a video message shared on her social media accounts, captioned "My journey ends here", the former World No. 1 Spaniard said the recurring injury had forced her to take the difficult call, opting to prioritise her long-term health over a final appearance on court. "My journey in professional badminton has come to an end and therefore I will not be competing in the European Championships in Huelva," Marin said. "I wanted us to see each other for the last time on a track, but I don't want to put my body at risk for that. I said many times, and I am consistent with my decision." Marin shared one of modern badminton's most compelling rivalries with India's two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, with the duo producing several memorable encounters over

Orleans Masters 2026: Tanvi, Isharani defeat ends India's campaign

Indian shuttlers Tanvi Sharma and Isharani Baruah bowed out in the women's singles semifinals after suffering straight-game losses at the Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton tournament here on Saturday. Unable to rein in her errors, 17-year-old Tanvi, a World Junior Championships silver medallist, went down 9-21 16-21 in 35 minutes to former world champion and fifth seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. Later, 22-year-old Isharani went down 12-21 21-23 to Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh, the 2023 World Junior Championships, bringing curtains down on India's campaign in the USD 250,000 event. Tanvi had come into the match with confidence, having beaten Okuhara, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, at the Syed Modi International last year in a thrilling three-game contest. Known for her long rallies, Okuhara opened up a 3-0 lead and moved to 6-3 as Tanvi committed a string of unforced errors. The Japanese used her deception effectively, while Tanvi struggled with her length, trailing 6-11 at the

India face defending champions China in Thomas and Uber Cup draws

The Indian men's and women's teams found themselves in tough draws for the Thomas and Uber Cups respectively after being clubbed with defending champions China, the Badminton World Federation announced on Wednesday. The 34th edition of the Thomas Cup and 31st Uber Cup are slated to be held at Horsens, Denmark from April 24-May 3. The Indian men's team, who had made history winning its first-ever tile in 2022, have been placed in Group A alongside China, Canada and Australia. India had lost to eventual winners China in the quarterfinals of the last edition in 2024. In the Uber Cup, the Indian women's team also find itself in Group A with reigning and 16-time champions China. Hosts Denmark and Ukraine complete the group. India had bowed out in the quarterfinals in the previous edition, losing to Japan. China boast of a formidable men's line-up with Shi Yu Qi (world No. 2) and Li Shi Feng (No. 7), besides Weng Hong Yang (No. 17) and Lu Guang Zu (No. 18). India however, will draw .

Saina Nehwal urges caution on BWF scoring changes, praises Lakshya Sen

Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal has urged the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to exercise caution regarding proposed scoring changes, maintaining that the current 21-point system preserves the sport's essential intensity and endurance. The game's governing body (BWF) has proposed switching to a 3x15 scoring format from the current 3x21 system, with a membership vote on the change scheduled at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark on April 25. "Badminton has a rich tradition, and tournaments like the All England Open Badminton Championships and the BWF World Championships have always been special because of their intensity and endurance factor," Saina, who joined the advisory board of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.), told PTI in an interview. "Any change in scoring or format should be carefully considered. The current 21-point system has worked well and players have adapted to it over many years. "If changes are introduced, they should ensur

Lakshya Sen falls short to Chun-Yi in 2026 All England Championship final

Indian badminton ace Lakshya Sen went down to familiar foe Lin Chun-Yi in the men's singles final of the All England Open here on Sunday as the country's wait to see a champion again at the prestigious tournament continued. The 24-year-old Indian fought hard but could not overcome the challenge of the left-handed Taiwanese shuttler, losing the intense title clash 15-21 20-22. It was Sen's fifth straight defeat to Lin and second runner-up finish at the tournament. He had made the final in 2022 as well, but could not cross the finish line. Sen, who battled through blisters and cramps during a gritty semifinal win on Saturday, produced a spirited campaign through the week, defeating a string of higher-ranked opponents before falling short in the title clash against Lin. Only two Indians -- Prakash Padukone (1980) and P Gopichand (2001) -- have won the men's singles title at All England Open in history.

Lakshay Sen final streaming: Where to watch All England Championship match?

The live streaming of Lakshay Sen vs Lin Chun-Yi All England Championship 2026 final match will be available on the JioHotstar app and website in India

Badminton at its toughest, and Lakshya at his bravest: Vimal Kumar

Lakshya Sen's gruelling semifinal win over Canada's Victor Lai in the All England Open Championships on Saturday was a demonstration of badminton at its toughest and the Indian ace at his bravest, said former mentor and national coach Vimal Kumar. Battling painful blisters on his foot and severe cramps, a gritty Sen overcame Lai to storm into the final of the All England Open in Birmingham, moving within one win of ending India's 25-year wait for the prestigious title. It turned out to be one of the finest matches of his career as Lakshya fought for one hour and 37 minutes before sealing a 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 win over the 21-year-old Lai, who had claimed a surprise bronze at last year's World Championships in Paris. "Lakshya, you have made us all incredibly proud. For me, the determination and resilience you showed today were truly unmatched. It was a physically draining contest of the highest intensity, yet you fought every point with remarkable courage," Kumar told PTI after Sen's

Braveheart Lakshya downs Lai in epic battle to enter All England Open final

Battling painful blisters on his foot and severe cramps, a gritty Lakshya Sen overcame Canada's Victor Lai to storm into the final of the All England Open here on Saturday, moving within one win of ending India's 25-year wait for the prestigious title. It turned out to be one of the finest matches of his career as Lakshya fought for one hour and 37 minutes before sealing a 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 win over the 21-year-old Lai, who had claimed a surprise bronze at last year's World Championships in Paris. It will be Lakshya's second appearance in the All England final after finishing runner up at the 2022 edition. The 24-year old from Almora will now chase history when he takes on world No. 11 Lin Chun-yi of Chinese Taipei in the summit clash on Sunday. Prakash Padukone (1980) and Pullela Gopichand (2001) are the only Indians to have won the All England title. Apart from them, only Prakash Nath (1947) and Saina Nehwal (2015 runner up) came close with runner up finishes. Lakshya display

Lakshya beats Canada's Victor Lai to enter All England Open final

Ace Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen stormed into the All England Open Badminton Championships men's singles final with a hard-fought win over Victor Lai of Canada in the semifinals here on Saturday. The 12th ranked Sen beat world number 16 Lai 21-16 18-21 21-15 in the match that lasted one hour and 37 minutes. Lai had won a bronze medal in the world championships in Paris last year. This will be Sen's second final appearance in the prestigious tournament, having finished runner-up in 2022. Sen, who continued his dream run in the BWF Super 1000 tournament, will face Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in the final on Sunday. Chun-Yi beat world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the other semifinal on Saturday. Sen had beaten China's world No. 6 Li Shi Feng in straight games in the quarterfinals on Friday. He had stunned world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China in the first round.

'I am back home': PV Sindhu misses All England, returns to Bengaluru

Two-time Olympic medal-winning Indian badminton star P V Sindhu, who was stranded in Dubai due to closure of airspace in the Gulf region, has returned to the country after pulling out of the All England Championships in Birmingham. Sindhu posted on X to announce that she is back in the city. "Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I'm truly grateful to be back to my house," she posted. "A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say. "For now, it's time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps," she added. The former world champion was on her way to Birmingham via Dubai, when she was stranded after the flight operations were suspended in the Gulf region following the US and Israeli bombing of Iran. Iran subsequently

Sindhu's coach Irwansyah says team safe but admits slight concern

Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, who trains two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu, had a narrow escape after an explosion occurred close to where they were stationed at Dubai Airport while travelling to Birmingham for the All England Championships. Sindhu and Irwansyah were left stranded at Dubai International Airport after flight operations were suspended following escalating tensions in the Middle East. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Explosions were reported across parts of the Gulf after Iran responded with a salvo of missiles, including in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi and in Dubai, prompting the suspension of all flights at Dubai airport. "In Dubai at the moment, flights getting cancelled. There was an explosion in airport, so are stuck here at the moment," Irwansyah told PTI. "They have put us in the hotel, we are okay but again there is a little bit of worry at the same time. We want to go to All England. I hope we can fly out today ...

Expanded World Tour and prize pool among big changes announced by BWF

The five Super 1000 tournaments will be staged across Asia and Europe and will adopt an expanded format

India Open 2026: BWF responds as top players voice unsafe venue concerns

In an official statement, the BWF said it had actively engaged with players and teams throughout the week to review conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex

Sindhu knocked out of Malaysia Open after straight-games loss to Wang

Ace Indian shuttler P V Sindhu's impressive run came to an end after a straight-game defeat to China's Wang Zhiyi in the women's singles semifinals of the season-opening Malaysia Open Super 1000 here on Saturday. The two-time Olympic medallist could not sustain the pressure against the world number two, committing too many unforced errors in a 16-21, 15-21 loss. Playing her first tournament after recovering from a foot injury that kept her on the sidelines since October last year, Sindhu also let slip an 11-6 lead in the second game. The loss also brought down curtains on India's campaign in the tournament. Sindhu took the fight to her higher-ranked opponent early, hitting hard and using her reach effectively. She produced her trademark cross-court smashes to race to a 5-2 lead before Wang's subtle touch helped her draw level with a run of points. A few misses from Wang allowed Sindhu to edge ahead 9-7 but the Chinese player clawed back once again to take a slender one-point lead