India’s Smashing Rise In The Game Of Badminton
Indian badminton stars’ performance at the just-concluded World Badminton Championship (the equivalent of a World Cup), though below the best-case scenario, was yet another indication that India is on the verge of declaring itself a world power in the game. For a few years now, there have been signs that badminton is getting bigger and better in India. The fantastically organised World…
Indian badminton stars showcased their talents at the recently concluded World Badminton Championship, signaling that India is poised to become a global force in the sport. The championship, organized exceptionally well, drew a large crowd (over 8,000) to the refurbished J D Jadav indoor stadium in Delhi, demonstrating the sport's growing popularity in a cricket-centric nation.
India managed to secure one medal and achieve two quarter-final finishes during the tournament. Tressa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were eliminated in the semi-final by the strong Chinese duo Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning. However, their performances provided a glimpse of India's promising future in badminton. The emergence of Ayush Shetty, who defeated world No. 1 seed Shi Yuqi in the first round, is a remarkable example of India's upward trajectory.
Ayush Shetty now ranks 22nd in the world, and India will soon have two men, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, within the top ten. Sindhu is ranked 9th, while the men's doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Reddy and Chirag Shetty are No. 1 in the rankings. Tressa and Gayatri, nurtured by their coach Gayatri's father, Pullela Gopichand, have a combined ranking of 9.
Kerala's Treesa has developed an impressive backhand smash, and Gayatri's net play is precise, enabling them to excel in modern, attrition-based badminton, marked by deft touches and feints.
China, the current world No. 3 ranked player Wang, faced challenges in her match against Sindhu but never surrendered, demonstrating the importance of unwavering determination in sports. This tenacious mindset should be emulated by Indian players striving for success. China's dominance in badminton, replacing Malaysia and Indonesia as the former superpowers, highlights the need for India to adopt a similar competitive spirit.
While Japan is making steady progress with two players in the finals, India's top ten players can easily outperform their opponents, as demonstrated by Ayush Shetty's impressive first-round win against the world No. 1.
Historically a Chinese and Asian game, badminton is now experiencing a shift towards a Western influence, with France emerging unexpectedly to win the gold medal. France's ambitious plan to dominate the sport could serve as a useful model for India to emulate as it strives to ascend to the top ranks and maintain its position.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
