3 most memorable wins for India in badminton at the Olympics
Indian badminton has witnessed an exponential rise, especially over the last decade, and much of this can be credited to Saina Nehwal’s historic medal win at the London Olympics in 2012. Her victory placed India firmly on the global badminton map and ignited a new craze in a cricket-crazy nation.
Four years later, PV Sindhu’s stunning silver medal win at the Rio Olympics in 2016 further solidified India’s status as a force to reckon with in the sport.
These landmark achievements, along with the groundbreaking accomplishments of Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Kidambi Srikanth, Ashwini Ponnappa, Jwala Gutta, HS Prannoy, Parupalli Kashyap, and so many other shuttlers, have inspired a whole generation of players and sparked a badminton revolution in the country.
This has also resulted in an impressive number of Indian players now being ranked in the top 100 of the BWF rankings.
As India gears up to send its largest-ever badminton contingent to the Paris Olympics 2024, featuring PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Ashwini Ponnappa, Tanisha Crasto, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty, let us revisit three of India's most memorable wins in badminton at the Olympics.
#3 PV Sindhu's Bronze at Tokyo 2020
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics were highly anticipated, especially for PV Sindhu, who had already proven her mettle with a silver medal at Rio 2016. With Carolina Marin, the gold medalist from the last edition, out of the competition due to an injury, Sindhu was one of the favorites to clinch the gold.
Sindhu began her campaign on a strong note, as she topped her group with dominant victories over Cheung Ngan Yi and Ksenia Polikarpova. She continued this form through the knockout stages, where she defeated Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the pre-quarterfinals before overcoming a stern challenge from former Asian Games champion Akane Yamaguchi to advance to the semi-finals.
However, Sindhu’s run came to an end in the semifinals. She faced the World No. 1 Tai Tzu-Ying from Chinese Taipei, and despite a valiant effort, the silver medalist from Rio went down 18-21, 12-21.
In the bronze medal match, Sindhu shrugged off her semifinal defeat and bounced back to get the better of He Bing Jiao to secure her second Olympic medal, making it the third Olympics in a row where the Indian shuttlers have secured a medal.
#2 PV Sindhu's Silver at Rio 2016
The Rio 2016 Olympics marked a turning point in Indian badminton, largely thanks to the incredible performance of a young PV Sindhu. At just 21, Sindhu entered the Olympic Games as an underdog, with little attention and fewer expectations compared to her more experienced counterparts.
She started the tournament by topping her group with decisive victories over Laura Sarosi and Canada’s Michelle Li, securing her place in the knockout rounds.
On the other hand, unexpected group-stage defeats for Saina Nehwal and India’s doubles pairs brought an end to their campaign at the tournament. Suddenly, as the only Indian to make it past the group stage, Sindhu carried the hopes of a nation on her shoulders.
In the round of 16, Sindhu defeated Tai Tzu-Ying 21-13, 21-15 before she emerged victorious with a 22-20, 21-19 win in a hard-fought battle against Wang Yihan in the quarter-finals.
The semi-finals saw Sindhu go up against Nozomi Okuhara, continuing her remarkable run. Sindhu outclassed Okuhara, booking her place in the final and ensuring herself and India at least a silver.
The final saw Sindhu face Spain’s Carolina Marin. Sindhu won the opening game 21-19, raising hopes of an unprecedented gold. However, Marin bounced back, and Sindhu eventually settled for silver after losing the next two games 12-21, 15-21.
Sindhu's silver medal at Rio 2016 was historic. It was a breakthrough moment for Indian badminton that not only inspired countless young shuttlers in the country but also announced Sindhu's arrival as the next big thing in the badminton world.
#1 Saina Nehwal’s Bronze at London 2012
Saina Nehwal’s bronze medal win at the London 2012 Olympics undoubtedly stands as a ‘THE MOMENT’ or the defining moment in Indian badminton’s history.
Saina’s journey leading up to the victory began with two commanding wins in the group stages: first over Sabrina Jacquet with a score of 21-9, 21-4, and then against Lianne Tan with a 21-4, 21-14 scoreline.
Advancing to the knockout stages, Saina faced Yao Jie in the round of 16 and secured yet another straight-sets victory, winning 21-14, 21-16. She continued her brilliant form into the quarter-finals and beat Tine Baun 21-15, 22-20 in a grueling contest to make it to the last four. The semi-final saw Saina face world champion Wang Yihan. Despite her best efforts, Saina fell short, losing 13-21, 13-21.
Saina’s bronze medal match against another Chinese shuttler, Wang Xin was an unusual one. After winning the first game 21-18, Wang Xin was forced to retire in the second one due to an unfortunate injury. This unexpected turn of events saw Saina Nehwal take home the bronze medal, making her the first Indian badminton player to stand on the Olympic podium.
While the manner of her victory was unfortunate, Saina’s victory was the culmination of her hard work and determination, and it ignited a badminton frenzy in India. Her achievement inspired a new generation of players and elevated the sport’s status in the country.
The bronze medal win at the London 2012 Olympics was more than just a personal triumph; it was a moment of national pride and a catalyst for the future of Indian badminton.