Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is a popular sport in India, with many people playing it for leisure and exercise. It is the second most played sport in the country, after cricket. The sport is managed by the Badminton Association of India, which has urged former players to learn coaching skills under foreign coaches to preserve the traditional Indian playing style. India has seen some success in badminton internationally, with players such as Prakash Padukone, Saina Nehwal, Srikanth Kidambi, and P. V. Sindhu ranking among the world's top players. The country's top competition, the Premier Badminton League, has also seen a rise in viewership, with TV viewership jumping to a record 155 million in 2019. However, some sources suggest that badminton is not as popular as other sports in India when it comes to viewership and that it is overshadowed by cricket, football, and tennis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity of badminton in India | Badminton is the second most played sport in India, after cricket. However, it is not as popular to watch as other sports. |
| Reasons for popularity | Badminton is accessible and affordable, with an abundance of courts and equipment. It is played in schools and universities and is celebrated in India. |
| International success | India has had some international success in badminton, with players such as Saina Nehwal, Srikanth Kidambi, and Pusarla Venkata Sindhu ranking among the world's top players. India has also won medals in the Olympics, World Championships, and Thomas Cup. |
| Style of play | The traditional Indian style of play is believed to be fading due to the influence of foreign coaches. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has urged former players to learn coaching under foreign coaches to preserve the Indian style. |
| Strengths | India has strength and depth in doubles badminton, with successful pairs such as Satwik-Chirag, Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa, and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand. |
| Weaknesses | India has struggled in singles badminton in recent years, with no players in the top 15. |
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What You'll Learn
Badminton is the second most played sport in India
Badminton's popularity in India is evident in the abundance of badminton courts and equipment. It is a celebrated sport, with many Indians playing it for leisure, exercise, and competitive purposes. The Premier Badminton League, India's top competition, has seen a surge in viewership, with TV viewership jumping to a record 155 million in 2019. The success of Indian badminton players has further fuelled the sport's popularity. Notable players include Prakash Padukone, who was the first Indian to achieve the world number 1 spot, and Saina Nehwal, who became the first female player from India to attain the same feat and won India's first Olympic medal in badminton. P. V. Sindhu added to these accomplishments by becoming the first Indian badminton World Champion in 2019 and the only Indian to win two consecutive Olympic medals in the sport.
Despite the sport's popularity at the recreational and professional levels, badminton in India faces challenges in terms of viewership and spectator engagement. It is overshadowed by cricket and other sports like football, lawn tennis, and F1. The lack of consistent success in international competitions and the retirement of top players have also impacted its popularity. However, badminton is gaining momentum, with increasing TV viewership and the country's recent victories in the Olympics, World Championships, and Thomas Cup.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) plays a crucial role in promoting and developing the sport. BAI has expressed concern about the fading traditional Indian playing style due to the influence of foreign coaches. They have encouraged former Indian players to learn coaching skills under foreign coaches and pass on the unique Indian style to junior players, creating a "chain of talent." The association also focuses on the development of junior players and the preservation of the country's distinct badminton style.
Badminton's popularity in India is undeniable, with its players achieving international success and the sport being embraced by people of all ages across the country. While it may be overshadowed by cricket in terms of viewership, badminton's recreational and competitive appeal has firmly established it as the second most played sport in India.
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India's badminton success has been mostly in singles
Badminton is a popular sport in India, with an abundance of badminton courts and equipment. It is managed by the Badminton Association of India, which is associated with Badminton Asia and the Badminton World Federation. While badminton is popular at a recreational level, it lags behind other sports in terms of viewership and spectator interest. Cricket, football, lawn tennis and F1 are all more widely watched than badminton in India.
India has produced several world-class badminton players, with Prakash Padukone, Srikanth Kidambi, Jwala Gutta, Saina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, H. S. Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty all having ranked in the world's top ten. India's badminton success has been notable in singles competitions. Prakash Padukone was the first Indian player to achieve the world number one spot, and he also won the men's singles gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Padukone's victory at the All England Open in 1980 was a historic moment for India, as it was the first time an Indian had won this prestigious title.
Srikanth Kidambi became the second male player from India to reach the world number one ranking in April 2018. In 2021, Lakshya Sen won a bronze medal in the men's singles at the BWF World Championships, while Srikanth Kidambi won silver, marking the first time India had two medallists in the same edition of the men's singles discipline. Saina Nehwal is another pioneering Indian badminton player, becoming the first female player from her country to achieve the world number one ranking in April 2015. She was also the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal, claiming bronze in the individual women's competition at the 2012 London Olympics.
P. V. Sindhu is another highly successful Indian badminton player, becoming the first Indian to win the World Championship in 2019. She is also the only badminton player from India to win two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games, claiming silver and bronze at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, respectively. At the 2013 and 2014 BWF World Championships, Sindhu won consecutive bronze medals, becoming the first Indian player to achieve this feat.
While India has had some notable successes in doubles badminton, with Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa becoming the first women to win a medal for India in this discipline, the country's most significant achievements have come in singles competitions. The future of Indian badminton looks promising, with young players like Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat showing potential.
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India has a traditional playing style
Badminton is a popular sport in India, with many Indians playing it for leisure, exercise, and recreation. The sport is managed by the Badminton Association of India, which is associated with Badminton Asia and the Badminton World Federation.
The modern game of badminton, played with rackets and a shuttlecock, developed in the mid-19th century among British expatriates in India. It evolved from the ancient game of battledore and shuttlecock, which was played in India, China, and Greece. In the 1860s, British army officers stationed in India played a game called "Poona" or "Poonah", named after the city of Poona (now Pune), where it was especially popular. The rules of the game were formalized in Pune in 1873, and it quickly spread to England and other parts of the world. By the 1870s, badminton was very popular in India among the British expatriates. The sport gets its name from the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played after being brought over from India.
India has produced several notable badminton players who have achieved success in international competitions. These include Prakash Padukone, who was the first Indian to achieve the world number 1 ranking; Saina Nehwal, the first Indian female player to attain the top ranking and the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal; and P. V. Sindhu, the first Indian to become World Champion and the only Indian to win two consecutive Olympic medals in badminton. Other successful Indian players include Jwala Gutta, Srikanth Kidambi, Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty.
While badminton is popular in India, it is not as widely watched as other sports like cricket, football, lawn tennis, and F1. However, with India's recent successes in badminton at the Olympics and World Championships, the sport is gaining more attention and popularity in the country.
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Badminton is not a popular spectator sport in India
Badminton is a popular sport in India, with many people playing it for leisure and exercise. However, it is not a popular spectator sport in the country, overshadowed by cricket, football, lawn tennis, and F1. While badminton is the second most played sport in India, it lags behind other sports in terms of viewership and following.
One reason for the lack of spectator popularity could be the limited television coverage of the sport due to the absence of successful national players. India has had some internationally successful badminton players, such as Prakash Padukone, Srikanth Kidambi, Saina Nehwal, and P. V. Sindhu, but their achievements have not translated into widespread badminton fever in the country.
The popularity of badminton as a spectator sport in India may also be impacted by the country's traditional sports like kabaddi and its colonial legacy, which has led to cricket becoming an integral part of the culture. Cricket is by far the most-watched and loved sport in India, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) being the most-attended cricket league globally.
However, badminton is gaining momentum in India. The Premier Badminton League (PBL) has seen a significant increase in TV viewership, jumping to 155 million in 2019. Additionally, India's recent successes in badminton at the Olympics, World Championships, and Thomas Cup have positively impacted the sport's popularity.
While badminton may not be a widely followed spectator sport in India yet, its growing visibility and the country's international victories could gradually change this dynamic.
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India has a strong doubles scene
Badminton is a popular sport in India, managed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI). While cricket is the most loved sport in the country, badminton is the second most played sport. It is also gaining popularity in terms of TV viewership.
Despite the sport's popularity, India has historically struggled in badminton singles competitions. However, there is a strong doubles scene in the country. One of the most successful Indian doubles players is Jwala Gutta, who has ranked in the top 10 of two categories. She peaked at #6 with Valiyaveetil Diju in mixed doubles and at #10 with Ashwini Ponnappa in women's doubles. Gutta and Ponnappa also started India's run of a World Championship/ Olympics medal every August from 2012 to 2024, with 12 straight podium finishes. Another successful pair is Satwik-Chirag, who helped India win the Thomas Cup and became World No.1 after winning the 2023 Asian Games.
The BAI has recognized the importance of the doubles game and is taking steps to preserve and promote it. They have urged former top Indian players to learn coaching skills under foreign coaches and work with junior players to instill the traditional Indian playing style, which is believed to be slowly fading due to the increasing influence of foreign coaches. The BAI received an overwhelming response to their coaching positions, with 49 former players applying. The selected coaches will be rotated across training centers, initially working with junior players at the National Centres of Excellence (NCoE).
The development of junior players is a key focus for the BAI, as they aim to create a "chain of talent". They have established National Centres of Excellence, providing a consistent space for junior players to train together. The BAI's efforts demonstrate their commitment to strengthening India's doubles scene and ensuring the country's style of play thrives.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, badminton is popular in India, with many people playing it for leisure and exercise. However, it is not as popular as cricket, football, lawn tennis and F1 in terms of viewership.
Yes, there are several famous Indian badminton players, including Prakash Padukone, Srikanth Kidambi, Jwala Gutta, Saina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, H. S. Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
The Premier Badminton League (PBL) is one of the major badminton tournaments in India, attracting an increasing number of viewers. In recent years, TV viewership of the PBL games has seen a significant jump.
