New Delhi, 11 May (H.S.): Amid the rapidly growing popularity and competitiveness of racket sports in India, Yonex Sunrise India has taken an important step to strengthen a crucial technical aspect of badminton performance—professional racket stringing. In this context, a special “Yonex-Sunrise Stringing Workshop” was organised at Novotel New Delhi City Centre in Jhandewalan.

The workshop was led by world-renowned stringing expert Tim Willis, Head Stringer and Supervisor of the Yonex Stringing Team. During the session, participants were given detailed insights into advanced racket stringing techniques, machine precision, players’ individual requirements, and international servicing standards in badminton and tennis.

With more than four decades of experience, Tim Willis is counted among the world’s most respected stringing specialists. One of the founding members of the Yonex Stringing Team, Willis has provided services at major international events including the Olympic Games, BWF World Championships, Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. He has also worked technically with top global players such as Viktor Axelsen and Carolina Marin.

The workshop was among the largest structured technical training programmes ever held in India, with more than 100 stringing professionals from 38 cities across Assam, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal participating in the event.

Live demonstrations were also

conducted using the Yonex Precision 9 and the new Precision 5.2 stringing machines, giving Indian stringers practical exposure to international-level technology and tournament-grade servicing standards.

As badminton and other racket sports continue to expand rapidly in India, the demand for professional stringing services and technical expertise is also rising steadily. Top Indian players such as Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are now more conscious than ever of their racket strings, tension and consistency. This shift has also created fresh momentum within the stringing community to sharpen technical skills.

Commenting on the initiative, Tim Willis said, “The enthusiasm I experienced in New Delhi was extremely inspiring. The interest shown by participants from different cities across the country in professional stringing is a strong sign of how rapidly this technical field is evolving in India. Today, the stringer has become an important part of a player’s performance and confidence.”

Vikramaditya Dhar, Chief Executive Officer of Yonex Sunrise India, said, “The growth of racket sports in India is now no longer limited to players and tournaments; it is also extending to the technical systems that provide a strong foundation for performance. Professional stringing is a highly important, though relatively underappreciated, part of the sports ecosystem. Our aim is to provide Indian stringers with world-class technical understanding and opportunities.”

He added that through this initiative, the company remains committed to strengthening technical standards, expanding learning opportunities and accelerating the long-term development of racket sports in India.

Indian badminton players have delivered impressive performances on the BWF Tour in recent years. The Indian team recently won a historic bronze medal in the Thomas Cup, only the country’s second medal in the competition. In addition, India will host the BWF World Championships in New Delhi from 17 to 23 August, after a gap of 17 years.

Yonex Sunrise India clarified that the New Delhi workshop is the first phase of a broader national technical initiative. Similar advanced technical workshops are planned for Mumbai and Bengaluru in the coming months, with the aim of further strengthening professional stringing standards and technical expertise across the country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar