Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu are the most famous women badminton players in India.
The two Olympic medal winners have inspired billions of Indians and made them proud.
But that was the past, What about the present?
What if I tell you that at present NO Indian women is there in top 5 World Rankings.
Shocked?, No?
Well not in top 10. There is no one in even in top 15!
The best rank holder from India is PV Sindhu at the 20th position.
So, what went wrong ?
And how India can be back on the track.
Badminton as a sport has a rich history in India.
From Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand to Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu to Lakshya Sen, this sport has seen several talented and famous players.
But recent Rankings revealed huge concerns for Badminton as a sport in India, especially in women’s singles Category.
The two star performers : Saina and Sindhu, both have struggled recently. Sindhu recently was knocked out in her quarterfinal of the Denmark open while Saina hasn’t competed since Singapore Open in June 2023, she has been troubled by arthritis, which significantly limited her training
capabilities, leading her to even consider retirement.
So, even if these 2 players aren’t doing well , what about others ?
Sadly, India still doesn’t have the Next Sindhu or Saina Nehwal.
This can be seen by the fact that when both Saina and Sindhu both were injured, Aakarshi was the only Indian woman who participated in the 2024 India Open singles event. A rare thing which happened for the 1st time since 2008, highlighting a worrying trend in talent development.
According to Saina: the current crop lacks the all-round skills necessary to compete internationally, suggesting it may take another 4 to 5 years to produce a player of comparable calibre to herself and Sindhu.
This stagnation contrasts sharply with the men’s side, which continues to see emerging talents like Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat.
The lack of representation not only diminishes the competitive edge of Indian badminton but also affects sponsorship and media attention, which are crucial for nurturing young talent.
Without strong role models in women’s singles, aspiring players may struggle to find motivation and
support.
As for Saina Nehwal to become the Saina Nehwal and for PV Sindhu to become the PV Sindhu, they had several things which aligned together in their journeys.
They were at the right place at the right time, with all-round conditions. Both of them had parents who had history of playing sports. So, from the childhood it was easier for them to get acceptance and also get the environment to play sports, which isn’t the case for majority.
Same was the case for training. From early age, both of them started their professional training and then move to the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy (PGBA) in Hydrabad for better coaching.
It was easy for Sindhu, as she was originally from Hyderabad, while Saina was in Hyderabad as her father got transferred from Haryana to
Hyderabad.
Similarly both of their parents supported their daughters financially. Saina’s father even used his provident fund money to invest in good badminton
training for her daughter.
So, for Saina and Sindhu to shine up, all the stars, be it, Family support, training, environment or financial factors , aligned together.
Now, there can be a talented young girl in Gujarat or Jharkhand, so how they can be identified.
Will their parents support them while choosing sports as a career option. Will they support them financially. Are they going to have any training facility.
And if yes, will they need to go some other place for training. And lets say, if everything went right for them, can they perform at the highest level consistently, with high mental pressure and without sustaining injuries regularly.
So many questions to answer.
So, is everything going wrong with Women’s single badminton and no hope for future. Well not like that.
There are youngsters like Tanvi Patra who recently won the under-15 girls singles title at the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 junior championships, at the age of 13.
While she had performed consistently, it may take years for her fill into the shoes of the 2 legends of the sport. The lack of top-15 representation highlights the urgent need for strategic development to find the replacement of star players.
So, what can government and badminton association do.
They can do the following things :
Grassroots Development: Invest in grassroots initiatives to identify and nurture talent early, ensuring schools and local clubs have access to coaching and facilities.
Women-Specific Programs: Implement targeted programs to encourage female participation, providing equal opportunities and support for girls in sports.
Improved Scouting: Establish a robust scouting network to discover young talent across diverse regions, focusing on underrepresented areas where
potential players may be overlooked.
Access to Quality Coaching: Ensure that aspiring female players receive high- quality coaching and mentorship from experienced trainers, fostering skill development and competitive readiness.
International Exposure: Facilitate participation in international tournaments for junior players, allowing them to gain experience and confidence on a global stage.
Supportive Infrastructure: Develop better training facilities specifically for women, addressing gender disparities in sports infrastructure.
Psychological Coaching: It will help to develop mental resilience and coping strategies, enhancing performance under pressure.
Injury Management: Effective injury management reduces the risk of injuries and ensures timely rehabilitation, allowing athletes to maintain their competitive edge.
With a structured approach, India can aspire to reclaim its position among the elite in women’s badminton and make the Entire country proud
Written By Saikat
