New Delhi, 26 December (H.S.): For Indian badminton, 2025 proved to be a year more of introspection than celebration. Despite flashes of brilliance, the season was dominated by injuries, inconsistency, and early exits that disrupted the rhythm of senior players such as P.V. Sindhu, H.S. Prannoy, and Kidambi Srikanth.

The year, though not barren of laurels, underscored the need for strategic rebuilding as the nation now turns its attention to a decisive 2026 calendar.One of the few shining moments came from Lakshya Sen, who lifted the Australian Open title — his first since December 2024 and India’s first overseas triumph in nearly two years.

In the women’s doubles, the reliable pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly successfully defended their Syed Modi International crown, further affirming their consistency on the world circuit. The same tournament saw a rejuvenated Kidambi Srikanth reach his first final in five years, though he narrowly lost to Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan, a defeat emblematic of India’s season filled with fine margins.

Among emerging talents, Ayush Shetty, aged 20, captured the spotlight by winning the U.S. Open Super 300 title, establishing his credentials as India’s next big prospect in men’s singles.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma dazzled at the World Junior Championships, clinching a silver medal in girls’ singles and recording a landmark victory over former world No. 1 and Olympic medallist Nozomi Okuhara at the Syed Modi International — a feat that announced her as one to watch.

In men’s doubles, the formidable duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty battled through injuries to earn a bronze medal at the World Championships in Paris, later becoming the first Indian pair to qualify for the BWF World Tour Finals knockout stage, where they capped the season with another bronze. Their resilience provided a rare constant in an otherwise unsettled season.

With the BWF World Tour 2026 set to restart in January, Indian badminton eyes redemption in a milestone year — one that features India hosting the World Championships for the first time in 17 years. The season will open with the Asian leg, beginning with the Malaysia Open (Super 1000) followed by the India Open (Super 750). February will witness the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China (3–8 February), where the defending champion Indian women’s team and the twice bronze-winning men’s squad aim to secure continental supremacy.

March will bring the prestigious All England Open (3–8 March, Birmingham), an event etched in Indian sporting folklore. Since Prakash Padukone’s historic 1980 title and Pullela Gopichand’s triumph in 2001, India has yet to reclaim the crown, though Saina Nehwal (2015) and Lakshya Sen (2021) reached finals.

The 2026 campaign will see Sindhu, Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag, and Gayatri-Treesa leading another determined charge to end the 24-year drought.April will prove pivotal, with the Asian Championships in Ningbo (7–11 April) immediately followed by the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals (23 April–3 May).

The Indian men’s team, having made history with the 2022 Thomas Cup triumph, will push for a repeat, while the women’s team seeks a maiden Uber Cup title under the new-generation leadership.August will be monumental as India hosts the World Championships, offering home advantage to medal contenders like Lakshya Sen, H.S. Prannoy, and the Satwik-Chirag pair as they target gold. Post that, Indian shuttlers will contest the Asian Games (from 19 September), where both team and individual medals remain strong prospects.

The year will conclude with the World Junior Championships in October and the World Tour Finals in December, where India’s top performers aim to surpass semifinal finishes.With experience, youth, and the promise of home support, 2026 could well script a turning point for Indian badminton — a season of resilience, renewal, and potential global ascendancy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar