The story of the All England is very important, as it has definitely been a life-changing one for me. The victory gave me recognition, but crucially, it was the foundation on which I could become the coach I am and help build an ecosystem for badminton in the country.In fact, the preparations that helped me win the All England were actually towards the 2000 Sydney Olympics.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!I lived like a monk. I was training at Sports Authority of India and Ganguly Prasad was my coach there. I just spent hours meditating, manifesting, thinking that I’m going to win the Olympic medal . Even if you were to give me another chance today, with all the knowledge, I don’t think I could have prepared or worked harder than I did on that day. Unfortunately, I lost early in Olympics, because after three knee surgeries — in 1994, ’96 and ’97 — my body was not the same. It couldn’t handle the long, strenuous effort of playing on concrete flooring in Sydney. After a three-setter against Vladislav Druzchenko, my body didn’t have the energy. My entire body was swollen and my knee had a golf ball kind of swelling. Things were very sad after the Olympic failure. I was like a zombie, didn’t know what to do, but somehow pulled myself to work but without expectation. With that kind of a mindset, I went into the All England of 2001. We started on a Saturday from Bangalore, but halfway through our auto journey to the airport, we heard that our visa has not been still done and that we had to come back on Monday.We took a very roundabout trip to collect the visa in Delhi.Then we had a long journey from Delhi to Bandar Abbas in Iran, Frankfurt and Birmingham — we started on a Monday morning and reached on Tuesday evening. Those days, All England had a 64-player draw (now 32) and we still were playing on concrete. We had two matches on Day One, a Wednesday, two matches on Day Two. Although, I won inside two games each, I had to go through a lot of strain. Fifteen points was a tiring format, and the concrete floor wasn’t helping my cause. We didn’t have physios or nutrition specialists. My food was roti, daal paalak and chicken at the same restaurant the whole week. After matches, I would lie on ice once in the physio room at the stadium and then in my room.The matches took a heavy toll on my body and with a lot of swelling, I still somehow managed to win. The biggest relief after the title was that I don’t have to go through pain for another day. To recover from and to plan the match, I think it’s purely God’s grace. I was lucky that I had Dr Ashok Rajagopal and solid support from my team comprising Ganguly Prasad and Le Roy D’Sa sir.(As told to Manne Ratnakar)

Lakshya became only the second Indian after his former coach Prakash Padukone to make the men’s singles final of the tournament twice.
| Photo Credit: AP

India’s Lakshya Sen (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Lakshya Sen delivered a gritty performance to book his place in the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships, becoming only the second Indian shuttler to reach the title clash twice after defeating Canada’s Victor Lai in a demanding semifinal on Saturday. The 24 year old, who had previously reached the final in 2022, battled both a determined opponent and painful blisters on his right toe to seal a 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 victory in a contest that lasted one hour and 37 minutes. Sen’s achievement puts him in rare company alongside his mentor Prakash Padukone. The legendary Indian had reached the final in 1980 and 1981, famously winning the title in his first appearance in the championship match. Saturday’s semifinal turned into a test of stamina and resilience for both players. Sen and Lai were involved in several exhausting rallies, some stretching beyond 50 shots, as neither competitor was willing to give ground. The opening game remained closely contested until the score stood at 17-16 in Sen’s favour. The Indian then shifted gears, reeling off four consecutive points to take the first game. Lai responded strongly in the second game. The Canadian, who holds the distinction of being the first player from Canada to win a medal at the BWF World Championships, moved ahead 11-7 at the mid game interval and maintained his advantage despite Sen drawing level at 16-16 while dealing with blisters. Lai eventually forced the match into a deciding game. In the final game, Sen’s experience began to show. Mixing patience with calculated attacking shots, he built a healthy 15-9 lead. Lai continued to fight back and reduced the deficit to 17-15, but Sen finished strongly, claiming four points in a row to seal his place in the final. In the championship match, Sen will face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei. The left handed shuttler, who recently won the India Open, advanced to the final after defeating Thailand’s second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in a semifinal that lasted one hour and 18 minutes.

NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu returned to India after being stranded in Dubai since February 28 following the closure of airspace in West Asia due to escalating conflict in the region. As a result, she had to give the All England Badminton, which began on Tuesday in Birmingham, a miss.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Tuesday, Sindhu informed that she might also miss the Yonex Swiss Open, a Super 300 event in Basel scheduled from March 10 to 15, due to curtailed flight operations across the Gulf region and the unavailability of tickets on most airlines. The tournament carries a prize purse of $250,000 (approx Rs 2.1 cr).“Swiss Open is definitely a target. But as I speak, all the flights are going full. I have been trying every day to book myself on one of them, but there are no tickets available. Everything is via Dubai and it’s been a challenge. We all know taking the Dubai flight route is risky. Let’s see what happens in the next few days,” Sindhu said in a media interaction facilitated by SAI.“I am searching for options but nothing has been working out so far. I have to also think about my coach (Indonesian Irwansyah Adi Pratama) and his safety.” Sindhu said that the Badminton World Federation has waived a financial penalty of $5,000 for her no-show at the All England, acknowledging the extraordinary situation. However, discussions around a possible loss of her ranking points ahead of a season involving the CWG, Asian Games and World Championships, are ongoing, with Sindhu expecting an amicable solution due to “extraordinary circumstances”.“There are BWF regulations in place for skipping a Super 1000 or Super 750 tournaments by top-ranked players. If the world body doesn’t find the reasons valid, they would fine a player $5,000. I wrote a mail to BWF from Dubai. They understood my situation, as probably it was the first time that such a thing happened and waived off my penalty. That was one relief.“About the ranking points, they told me to send a collaborative mail detailing my circumstances. I’m waiting for their response. They will convey the decision in a day’s time,” said Sindhu, who is also a member of BWF’s Athletes Commission.“I just pray it was the first time and the last time I experience something like this. It’s going to be hard (to forget). You train so hard and then something completely beyond your control prevents you from competing in a big event.”

Lakshya Sen (PTI Photo/Nand Kumar)

Lakshya Sen showed grit and stamina to beat China’s Shi Yu Qi in a thrilling three-game battle on Tuesday, winning 23-21, 19-21, 21-17 at the All England Open Badminton Championships. It was his first victory over the former world No. 1 in a BWF World Tour event, and it didn’t come easy.The match was intense from start to finish, with long rallies and both players pushing each other to the limit. Lakshya started strongly, taking control of the first game with sharp smashes and quick net play. Although he nearly let it slip after leading comfortably, he held his nerve in a tense finish to take the opener.Coach Vimal praised his performance, saying, “Lakshya was very calm and composed today. Right from the start, he made Shi work hard for every single point, and eventually the Chinese player began to tire.”Even when Shi fought back to win the second game, Lakshya didn’t lose focus.“At one stage in the second game, I felt Lakshya was getting a bit fatigued, but he recovered well and raised his level. His attacking play was excellent too,” he added. “Overall, it was a very confidence boosting win.”The deciding game was again tight, but Lakshya’s speed, defence and smart shot selection made the difference. He stayed aggressive, forced errors from Shi, and closed out the match when the Chinese player hit long on match point.In other matches, Malvika Bansod lost to China’s Chen Yu Fei in straight games. However, the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto secured a straight-game win over Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin.

Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has returned to her home in Bengaluru, the two-time Olympic medallist informed on Tuesday, March 3. Sindhu was stranded in Dubai as tensions rose in the Gulf region due to the conflict between US-Israel and Iran.

“Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say. For now, it’s time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps,” Sindhu wrote on X.

More to follow…

Odisha’s pride and India’s ace para shuttler Pramod Bhagat delivered a historic performance at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2026 in Bahrain, clinching the Gold Medal in Men’s Singles SL3 and adding a second gold in Men’s Doubles SL3–SL4 to complete a sensational double triumph.

In the Men’s Singles SL3 final, Pramod defeated Indonesia’s Muhammad Al Imran in commanding fashion with a scoreline of 21–12, 21–18. With this spectacular victory, he secured his sixth World Championship Gold in Singles and his fourth consecutive World Championship title, creating history once again for the nation.

With this latest gold medal, Pramod Bhagat overtakes the legendary Lin Dan, who had five World Championship gold medals in men’s singles, further cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished shuttlers in the sport’s history.

Pramod’s World Championship Men’s Singles Gold Medal victories now stand at 2009, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2026 — a remarkable tally of six gold medals in the marquee category.

Reflecting on his milestone achievement, Pramod Bhagat said, “Winning my sixth World Championship gold and fourth consecutive title is an emotional moment for me. Lin Dan has always been my idol, and to surpass his record is truly special. Every medal represents years of hard work, sacrifice and belief. To continue making history for India and raise the bar higher motivates me even more. I dedicate this victory to my country and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey.”

Pramod’s golden run in Bahrain extended to the Men’s Doubles SL3–SL4 category, where he partnered with Sukant Kadam to claim the gold medal. The Indian duo defeated fellow Indians Jagadesh Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar 21–19, 21–16 in a high-intensity final, showcasing exceptional teamwork and composure.

For Sukant Kadam, the championship proved equally rewarding. Alongside his doubles gold with Pramod, he also secured a bronze medal in Men’s Singles, highlighting his consistency across categories.

Sukant Kadam said, “Winning doubles gold with Pramod at the World Championships is a proud moment. We’ve worked extremely hard to build our partnership, and delivering on the biggest stage is very satisfying. Adding a singles bronze makes this campaign even more meaningful for me.”
Krishna Nagar further strengthened India’s medal tally with an impressive double podium finish. He clinched a bronze medal in Men’s Singles SH6 category and added another bronze in Mixed Doubles along with Nithya Sre.

Krishna Nagar said, “It’s always an honour to represent India at the World Championships. Winning two medals is satisfying, but it also motivates me to push harder and aim for gold in the coming events.”

With Pramod Bhagat’s historic sixth singles gold and double crown, and Sukant Kadam’s gold and bronze medal performances, India once again reaffirmed its dominance in global para badminton at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships 2026. India’s medal haul extended across multiple categories, underlining the country’s growing depth in para badminton. Prem Kumar Ale and Alphia James won silver, marking India’s first-ever medal in the Wheelchair category at the BWF Para Badminton World Championships — a significant milestone for the sport in the country. Kumar Nitesh claimed bronze in Men’s Singles SL3, while Umesh Kumar and Surya Kant Yadav secured bronze in Men’s Doubles SL3–SL4.

In women’s events, Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi Murugesan won bronze in Women’s Doubles SL3–SU5, while Chirag Baretha and Mandeep Kaur secured bronze in Mixed Doubles SL3–SU5. Naveen Sivakumar clinched silver in SL4, Manisha Ramdass won silver in Women’s Singles SU5, and Nithya Sre added another silver in women’s singles to cap off a memorable campaign.