Five most iconic moments scripted by Indian shuttlers since independence

Heroes are necessary for sports to attract fans, whether they are team sports or individual disciplines. Heroes who are tough enough to succeed in dire circumstances. Heroes who become idols due to their success alone and earn a place in the local folklore. 

In order to strengthen its roots in India, badminton needed its own heroes after failing to garner much interest despite being played there for thousands of years. Even though it sounds like a fairy tale, it was able to win over the nation's admirers as new heroes from various generations emerged and the sport gained national recognition. 

On that note, let's look at the five most memorable moments in India's badminton history since independence.

Prakash Padukone’s supremacy at the All England Open 1980

One of the most significant days in Indian badminton history will undoubtedly be March 23, 1980. Prakash Padukone, a young Indian shuttler, accomplished something that no other Indian had ever imagined at the age of 24. The Bangalore native was the first shuttler from India to win the All-England Open, which was once the sport's most prominent tournament. 

Padukone was given the challenge of defeating Liem Swie King, the top shuttler from Indonesia, who had already won the competition twice before facing Padukone in the summit match. Given that neither player had lost a single game during the tournament, it was expected that the match would be an exciting matchup.

In the end, it turned out to be a cakewalk for Padukone as he won in straight sets 15-3 15-10. His victory is a landmark event in India's badminton history as it led to the surge in popularity of the sport in the country.

Pullela Gopichand’s win at the All England Open 2001

An Indian shuttler provided yet another reason for the Indian public to pick up the racket again after a more than 20-year wait. Pullela Gopichand made history at the All England Open 2001 by overcoming a chronic knee injury and the devastation of the Sydney Olympics (2000).

At the start of the competition, nobody thought Gopichand would win the title, and his seeding as low as 10th helped to explain why. Without losing a match, the top-seeded Indian shuttler easily defeated his rivals to earn the final spot in the tournament.

In the title match, Gopichand faced off against Chen Hong of China. The Chinese were riding on the crest of some fiery form, but Hong posed less of a threat to the Indian than some of the opponents he had vanquished en route to the summit battle. 

Hong stunned everyone by defeating Hendrawan, the silver medallist from the Sydney Olympics. As a result, Gopichand's path to the title didn't appear to be straightforward. In the final, though, the Andhra-born made it appear easy as he easily defeated his opponent 15-12 15-6 to achieve his greatest career achievement. 

2016 Rio Olympics: PV Sindhu’s Silver Medal

Today, Pusarla Venkata Sindhu is well-known throughout India. In a nation of nearly 1.4 billion people, her popularity has grown to such a great degree that it has transcended social and religious differences. She has attained such heights that children today identify with the sport as a result of her association with it, making her the nation's new poster girl.

However in 2016, when the Indian team was vying for gold at the Rio Olympics, Sindhu wasn't the focus of much attention. Indeed! As strange as it may sound to listeners today, Saina Nehwal, the bronze medallist from the London Olympics, was the one who brought the hopes of billions of Indians worldwide to the tournament. 

Nehwal had a lot of expectations going into the mega event, but her brief run and her dreams of changing the color of her medal were dashed by an eye-popping group stage exit following a heartbreaking defeat to World No. 61 Maria Ulitina of Ukraine. Saina's shock exit saw those who were hopeful of a medal at the global event lose interest but little did they know of what was to unfold.

Standing 1.79 metres above the ground but still eclipsed by Saina's gigantic stature, Sindhu made rapid strides towards a goal she shared with her eliminated compatriot. With the momentum of her blazing smash, many medal contenders fell to the ground, and Sindhu secured a historic silver by defeating Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

Assured of a historic silver, Sindhu entered the summit clash. Awaiting her in the finale was the then world No. 1 Carolina Marin. The push for gold was not going to be easy with the Spaniard blocking her way but still Sindhu gave her best on the day. However, her best didn't turn out to be good enough as a billion hopes came crashing down alongside Sindhu's when Marin sealed the game 21, 21-12, 21-15.

World Badminton Championships 2019: PV Sindhu wins gold

Sindhu became the new Indian badminton queen after winning the silver at Rio, which brought her the recognition she so richly earned. But it also brought with it a new set of expectations, and she ended up finishing second in a number of events, including the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, and—most tragically—the World Badminton Championships in 2017, where she lost to Nozomi Okuhara 19-21, 22-20, and 20-22.

Because of these close finishes, her detractors were able to label her the second best and unworthy of a championship, a view that was bound to change.

And it happened too quickly. After defeating Okuhara 21-7 21-7 in the World Badminton Championships 2019 final, India's new badminton poster girl reveled in her well-earned moment of fame. With the victory, she was able to shed the nickname Silver Sindhu and became the first Indian to win gold at the prestigious event.

India’s Thomas Cup Glory

The Indian men's team, made up of a passionate group of players, accomplished the unthinkable by defeating Indonesia, the 14-time champions, to win the Thomas Cup (2022), one of the most coveted competitions in sports history.

Prodigious talent Lakshya Sen of India gave India an incredible start in the final by defeating Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia 8-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the opening men's singles match.

To make its presence felt, it turned to the fiery duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. The pair gave India a 2-0 lead by defeating Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Mohammad Ahsan 18-21, 23-21, and 21-19 after saving four match points. 

It all came down to Kidambi Srikanth, the cool-headed former world number one, and he did not disappoint either. Millions of badminton fans in India were ecstatic as never before when Srikanth defeated Jonatan Christie 21-15 23-21 to help the nation win its first-ever Thomas Cup title.

Cover Credits - Olympics.com