New Delhi, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) HS Prannoy lauded India’s men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty after their long-awaited return to the top step of the BWF World Tour, calling their Singapore Open 2026 triumph a testament to their consistency in world-class company despite limited domestic depth.

India’s world No. 4 duo ended a two-year title drought with a hard-fought 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 win over Indonesia’s world No. 3 pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in a 73-minute final at the Singapore Badminton Open.

The victory marked their first title since the 2024 Thailand Open, also held in May, and made them the first Indian doubles team ever to win the Singapore Open, a tournament previously won only by Indian singles players Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and B Sai Praneeth.

Reacting to the breakthrough, Prannoy highlighted both the challenges and the resilience of India’s top doubles pair in a competitive global landscape.

“The leading badminton nations have depth. Multiple pairs in the top 20 and world-class sparring partners every day. India has one. Yet Satwik and Chirag keep conquering the biggest stages. That's what makes this Singapore Open title so sweet. In a league of their own,” Prannoy wrote on X.

On court, Satwik-Chirag had to recover from a difficult start. After a tight opening game, they conceded the first set despite leading phases of the contest, as the Indonesians closed strongly from 17-18 to take it 21-18.

The Indian pair responded in the second game with greater control, using a decisive mid-game surge to turn an even contest into a 21-17 equaliser. The momentum swing carried into the decider, where Satwik and Chirag established a four-point lead at the interval.

Although Alfian-Fikri fought back to narrow the gap to 14-13, the Indians held their nerve, winning seven of the next 11 points to close out the match and seal their ninth BWF World Tour title.

The win also carried added significance given their recent near-misses, including three final defeats over the past two seasons and a loss earlier this month at the Thailand Open.

India’s campaign in Singapore otherwise ended in the singles quarter-finals, with Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu exiting with losses in the quarterfinal, making the doubles triumph the standout result of the week. Prannoy, meanwhile, won his opening-round clash against Jonatan Christie but bowed out after losing to eventual runner-up Loh Kean Yew in the second round.

Source: IANS

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Hong Kong, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Alex Lanier spoiled the homecoming dream of Loh Kean Yew on Sunday, battling back from a game down to defeat the Singaporean star 17-21, 21-15, 21-14 and capture the men's singles title at the Singapore Open.

The victory marked another significant milestone in the rapid rise of the 21-year-old Frenchman, who secured his second BWF Super 750 crown and became the first French men's singles player to win the prestigious tournament.

For Loh, the defeat was a heartbreaking end to a memorable week. The former world champion had been bidding to become the first Singaporean to lift the men's singles trophy at the home event since 1962, with a packed arena firmly behind him throughout the final.

Lanier, however, showed from the outset that he had arrived with other plans. The French youngster burst out of the blocks, racing to a stunning 6-0 lead in the opening game and immediately placing Loh under pressure. Yet the Singaporean responded impressively, feeding off the crowd's energy to claw his way back into the contest.

Point by point, Loh erased the deficit before drawing level at 10-10. Although Lanier held a slender one-point advantage at the mid-game interval, the momentum had shifted.

The two players exchanged blows after the restart, but it was Loh who found another gear. The Singaporean moved ahead for the first time at 14-13 and gradually tightened his grip on the game. Despite a late push from Lanier, Loh produced a composed finish, winning four of the final five points to seal the opener 21-17 and move within a game of a historic triumph.

Lanier's response was emphatic. Mirroring his fast start from the first game, the Frenchman stormed into a 7-1 lead in the second and dictated rallies with greater aggression and precision. Loh mounted another spirited comeback, reeling off six consecutive points to close within one at 14-13 and reignite hopes of taking control of the match.

Just when the home crowd sensed a turning point, Lanier slammed the door shut. The Frenchman rattled off six unanswered points to wrest back momentum and close out the second game 21-15, forcing a deciding third set.

What followed was Lanier at his clinical best. For the third time in the match, he surged into a 6-0 lead and, unlike the previous two games, never allowed Loh a route back. While the Singaporean continued to fight and attempted to spark another comeback, Lanier maintained his composure and controlled the tempo of the rallies.

With the finish line in sight, the Frenchman remained relentless, eventually sealing the decider 21-14 to complete an impressive comeback victory. The result capped a superb week for Lanier and confirmed his growing status among badminton's brightest young talents, while Loh was left to reflect on a valiant run that came agonisingly short of ending Singapore's 64-year wait for a home men's singles champion.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s star men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian duo to win the men’s doubles title at the Singapore Open.

They fought back from a game down to defeat Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the final of the BWF Super 750 event.

The former world No. 1 pair made a strong comeback in a match that lasted one hour and 13 minutes. This victory marked their first title in two years and the ninth World Tour crown of their careers. It also marked their third Super 750 title. This win ended a frustrating period where they had finished as runners-up in four finals since their last victory at the Thailand Open in 2024.

Before the final, the Indian pair trailed 1-2 in their head-to-head record against the Indonesian team. They had lost to them in the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Open in January. This history seemed to weigh heavily in the opening game as Alfian and Fikri secured a narrow win.

However, Satwik and Chirag responded like champions. They raised their tempo and took control of the longer rallies. Their aggressive play and better court coverage began to trouble the world No. 3 Indonesians. The Indians leveled the contest by winning the second game 21-17.

With momentum on their side, the Indian duo kept their intensity high in the final game. Satwik and Chirag pressured their opponents with powerful smashes and quick interceptions at the net. They sealed the third game 21-16, completing a remarkable turnaround.

The title capped a fantastic week for the world No. 4 pair, who had previously shocked reigning world champions and top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in the semifinals to reach the championship match.

The emotions were clear once the winning point was scored. Satwik and Chirag fell to the court in celebration before embracing. Satwik then celebrated with a baby-themed gesture, while an ecstatic Chirag jumped onto his partner in joy. The pair later danced on the court as they enjoyed a long-awaited return to the winner’s podium and a historic win in Singapore.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s top men’s doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty knocked off World Champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of Korea in straight games to reach the final of the Singapore Open BWF World Series Super 750 tournament in Singapore on Saturday.

The fourth-seeded Indian pair registered their first victory over the Korean duo in three meetings, winning the semifinal clash 21-19, 21-18 in 52 minutes to reach their second World Tour final of the year.

The 2025 World Championships bronze medallists had finished runners-up at the Thailand Open earlier this year.

In the semifinal on Saturday, Satwik and Chirag fought back after conceding early leads in both games against the Koreans.

The Indian combination trailed 8-13 and then 13-17 in the opening game, but held their nerves under pressure to clinch the game. “When we were down, we kept calm and backed ourselves because we knew if we stuck to our plan, they would crack at some point,” Chirag said.

The second game also saw the Indians trailing 11-14 before they clinched six straight points to take a 17-14 lead and then maintained that advantage to reach the finals.

On facing Kim/Seo, Chirag added, “They have the best defense on the circuit right now. We knew we had to stay calm and steady, especially when attacking.”

Satwik and Chirag will now face the winner of the second semifinal between fifth seeds Mathias Christiansen and Alexander Boe of Denmark and China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wei Ya Xin.

Meanwhile, the challenge of the Indian mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto ended in the semifinals after a 16-21, 21-17, 13-21 loss to Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, fourth-seeded Satwik and Chirag started strongly by taking the opening game but were pushed into a decider after the Chinese Taipei pair dominated the second. The Indians came back to close out the match 21-18 in the decider, extending their head-to-head record against the duo to 7-0. They will next face Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai, to whom they lost their All England Open campaign earlier this year.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto advanced to the semifinals of the Singapore Open 2026 on Friday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.

Fourth-seeded Satwik-Chirag fought back from a game down to defeat Malaysia's Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 19-21,21-17, 21-13 in a 65-minute battle. The Indians then fought through a neck-and-neck second game before forcing a decider and dominating the third to secure their semifinal spot. They will next face reigning world champions and world no.1 pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of Korea.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv-Tanisha progressed after third-seeded Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia retired during the opening game. The Indian pair will next face Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara for a place in the final.

In men’s singles, All England 2026 runner-up Lakshya Sen went down fighting against Japan’s Koki Watanabe 19-21, 21-15, 15-21 in a 68-minute clash.

Meanwhile, PV Sindhu’s campaign ended in the quarterfinals following a 21-17, 21-14 loss to World No.1 An Se Young in a gruelling 48-minute encounter. With the victory, the Korean extended her head-to-head record to 9-0 against the Indian star.

On Thursday, PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with mixed doubles duo Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, advanced to the quarterfinals.

Sindhu outplayed Japan’s Riko Gunji in straight games, while Satwik-Chirag defeated Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan 21-15, 11-21, 21-18. Dhruv and Tanisha overcame a Japanese challenge to beat Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi 8-21, 21-17, 21-16.

The experienced Sindhu registered a comfortable straight-games victory in just 37 minutes, maintaining control in both games from the beginning. She will next face top seed An Se-young in the quarterfinals.

Lakshya Sen progressed in men’s singles after Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn retired with just two points played in the match. Lakshya will next take on Japan’s Koki Watanabe. In the other men's singles, HS Prannoy lost to the host nation's Loh Kean Yew 18-21, 21-16, 15-21.

In men’s doubles, fourth-seeded Satwik and Chirag started strongly by taking the opening game but were pushed into a decider after the Chinese Taipei pair dominated the second. The Indians came back to close out the match 21-18 in the decider, extending their head-to-head record against the duo to 7-0. They will next face Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai, to whom they lost their All England Open campaign earlier this year.

In mixed doubles, despite losing the opening game heavily, Dhruv and Tanisha mounted a strong comeback to secure the next two games. A challenging quarterfinal clash awaits them against the third-seeded Malaysian pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ace shuttler PV Sindhu hailed pistol shooter Esha Singh as an "absolute killer" after the 21-year-old clinched the gold at the ISSF World Cup in Munich with a world record score.

An Olympian, three-time world championship medallist and double Asian Games medallist, Esha bossed the women’s 25m pistol final with a world record (and junior world record) score of 43, en route to gold at the year’s second ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol leg at the hallowed Olympic Shooting Range in Munich.

"I have known of Esha and heard wonderful things about her for many years now. She trains in Hyderabad, has been supported by OGQ, who have also been my partners for the longest time, and we were also represented by a common agency at one point.

"I have always heard the same thing about her. Calm, quiet, doesn’t say much, but an absolute killer when it matters.

Incredible to see her break the world record and win gold on the world stage. Esha, the sky is the limit, my friend," Sindhu posted on X.

In a power-packed final, Esha shot perfect fives in half of the 10 series of five shots, leaving home favourite and former world champion Doreen Vennekamp full five shots behind.

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan also lauded Esha's world record effort. Taking to X, he wrote, "Another young Indian athlete shining on the global stage. What an incredible achievement by Esha Singh at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. The future of Indian shooting looks very bright."

Esha came off the blocks, slamming three perfect fives in the first three series, putting a gap between her and the field of eight early. Doreen was her closest challenger on 12, with Vietnamese Trinh Thu Vinh in third with 10 hits.

The Indian missed the first of her fourth series, also the first elimination stage, but was still four clear of Doreen, with Olympic champion Yang coming up to third with a perfect five.

The sixth and eighth were again fives as the world records came in sight with the medal assured. Esha closed out with a four and a three, bettering the mark of 42 set by Korean Kim Yeji in Baku two years back by one hit. She would also better the junior world record mark of 41 set by Yang Jiin. It was a champagne performance.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s campaign at the Singapore Open gathered significant momentum on Thursday, with four entries confirmed in the quarterfinals across singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles, highlighted by commanding performances from PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, and gritty comeback wins from the country’s doubles combinations.

The biggest statement once again came from Sindhu, who continued her impressive resurgence with another clinical display in women’s singles. The two-time Olympic medallist dismantled Japan’s Riko Gunji 21-9, 21-12 in only 37 minutes to storm into the last eight. Having already knocked out Indonesian fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani earlier in the tournament, Sindhu barely allowed Gunji any rhythm, controlling the pace of rallies from the outset and maintaining relentless pressure throughout both games.

The Indian star now faces her toughest challenge yet against reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young. Sindhu has yet to register a victory against the Korean in eight previous meetings.

In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen progressed under unusual circumstances after Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn was forced to retire almost immediately after the match began. Only two points had been played before the Paris Olympic silver medallist pulled out, sending Lakshya through to the quarterfinals with minimal time spent on court. Lakshya will next take on Japan’s Koki Watanabe for a place in the semi-finals.

India’s top men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were pushed hard before overcoming Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 in a fluctuating contest. The fourth-seeded Indians looked dominant while taking the opening game, but lost control completely in the second as the Taiwanese pair dictated the tempo and forced a decider.

Satwik and Chirag, however, regained composure at crucial moments in the third game to maintain their unbeaten record against the pair, extending their head-to-head advantage to 7-0. Awaiting them in the quarter-finals are Malaysia’s Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing, the same duo who ended the Indians’ campaign at the All England Open earlier this season.

The most dramatic turnaround of the day came in mixed doubles, where Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila recovered from a disastrous opening game to produce a memorable comeback victory. The Indian pair were thoroughly outplayed in the opener against Japan’s Maya Taguchi and Yuta Watanabe, losing 8-21 in just over 10 minutes.

But the momentum shifted sharply thereafter as Dhruv and Tanisha tightened their defence, attacked the net more aggressively, and gradually wore down the Japanese pair to win the next two games 21-17, 21-16. The victory marked a timely boost for the Indian combination after a difficult run of results in recent tournaments. Their next assignment, however, will be a stern examination against Malaysian third seeds Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.

HS Prannoy faced disappointment after a tough three-game match against Singapore’s former world champion Loh Kean Yew. Prannoy lost 18-21, 21-16, 15-21, after losing a promising lead in the final game of their 61-minute contest.

He began the match strongly, leading 11-7 in the first game, but Loh gradually gained control by tightening his shots and forcing Prannoy into difficult defensive positions. Despite saving four game points, Prannoy couldn’t prevent Loh from winning the first game when a wide shot from Prannoy clinched the set for Loh.

Prannoy delivered a strong performance in the second game despite the challenging drift inside the arena. He consistently targeted Loh’s forehand and exploited loose returns to gain control, ultimately forcing a decider with a precise cross-court winner.

The pivotal moment occurred late in the third game. Prannoy appeared poised to complete the comeback after building a 14-11 lead, but a sudden spree of unforced net errors allowed Loh to dramatically turn the tide. The Singaporean won 10 of the following 11 points, riding the home crowd’s energy and securing victory on his first match point.

Despite Prannoy’s exit, India concluded the day with a robust presence in various categories, as Sindhu, Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag, and Tanisha-Dhruv all advanced to the quarter-finals of the Super 750 tournament.

Source: IANS

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Singapore. May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) India enjoyed an impressive outing at the Singapore Open on Thursday as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the quarter-finals, while mixed doubles duo Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila produced one of the standout comebacks of the day.

Sindhu continued her encouraging run in the tournament with another dominant straight-games victory, brushing aside Japan’s Riko Gunji 21-9, 21-12 in just 37 minutes.

The two-time Olympic medallist looked in complete control from the opening exchanges, dictating rallies comfortably and rarely allowing her opponent to settle into the contest. Having already eliminated Indonesian fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani in the opening round, Sindhu has now carried that momentum into the last eight without dropping intensity.

Her next challenge, however, could be the toughest yet. Sindhu will face reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young, a player she has never beaten in eight previous meetings.

In men’s doubles, fourth-seeded Satwik and Chirag were tested heavily before overcoming the Chinese Taipei pair of Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan in a three-game battle.

The Indians appeared firmly in command after taking the opening game 21-15, but lost rhythm completely in the second as their opponents forced a decider with an 11-21 response. The deciding game remained tense deep into the contest before the Indian duo regained composure to close out a hard-earned 21-18 win. They will now meet Malaysia’s Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing for a place in the semi-finals.

The day’s biggest turnaround came in mixed doubles, where Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila recovered brilliantly after being completely outplayed in the opening game against Japan’s Maya Taguchi and Yuta Watanabe. After losing the first game 8-21, the Indian pair gradually shifted momentum through aggressive net play and improved defence, eventually storming back to win 21-17, 21-16. The result marked a timely boost for the duo, who had struggled for consistency in recent tournaments.

In the quarter-final the Indian duo will be up against the Malaysian world No. 4 pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.

Lakshya’s path to the quarter-finals came under unusual circumstances after Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn retired just moments into their round-of-16 clash. The Paris 2024 silver medallist pulled out after only two points had been played, sending the Indian through with barely a minute spent on court. He will next face Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the quarter-finals.

Later in the day, HS Prannoy takes on former world champion and local hero Loh Kean Yew for a place in the last eight.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's HS Prannoy upset World No. 5 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 10-21, 21-12, 21-18 in a 61-minute men's singles battle on Day 2 of the Singapore Open at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Lakshya Sen defeated China's Lu Guang Zu 21-17, 21-15, and mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced to the next round following a 21-14, 20-22, 21-13 victory over Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien.

Former World No. 6 Prannoy made a strong comeback after dropping the opening game. Despite Christie holding a 7-3 advantage in their previous meetings, the Indian took control of the second game from 2-all and never allowed the Indonesian to outplay him, comfortably closing it 21-12.

The decider turned into a tense contest. While Jonatan held the advantage through the early exchanges, momentum shifted towards Prannoy in the closing stages. Trailing 16-18, the Indian shuttler scored five consecutive points to seal the victory 21-18. Prannoy will next face Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the Round of 16, who defeated India’s Kidambi Srikanth 22-20, 19-21, 21-17.

Lakshya Sen defeated Lu Guang Zu in straight games in the other men’s singles clash to book his place in the pre-quarterfinals. A tough challenge awaits the Indian next as he faces Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who had beaten Sen in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open 2026 last month.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv and Tanisha secured the opening game before the Malaysians forced the match into a decider. The Indian pair responded strongly, taking control from 7-6 in the final game to seal a 21-13 win in 58 minutes.

In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod went down fighting against Lin Hsiang Ti 21-11, 19-21, 12-21. Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda lost in the Women's doubles.

Earlier on Tuesday, Indian seniors PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their Singapore Open campaign on a positive note, advancing to the next round after defeating their respective opponents. Sindhu overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 21-18 in women’s singles, while Satwik-Chirag defeated Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in men’s doubles.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's HS Prannoy upset World No. 5 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 10-21, 21-12, 21-18 in a 61-minute battle on Day 2 of the Singapore Open at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced to the next round following a 21-14, 20-22, 21-13 victory over Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien.

Former World No. 6 Prannoy made a strong comeback after dropping the opening game. Despite Christie holding a 7-3 advantage in their previous meetings, the Indian took control of the second game from 2-all and never allowed the Indonesian to outplay him, comfortably closing it 21-12.

The decider turned into a tense contest. While Jonatan held the advantage through the early exchanges, momentum shifted towards Prannoy in the closing stages. Trailing 16-18, the Indians scored five consecutive points to seal the victory 21-18. Prannoy will next face Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the Round of 16, who defeated India’s Kidambi Srikanth 22-20, 19-21, 21-17.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv and Tanisha secured the opening game before the Malaysians forced the match into a decider. The Indian pair responded strongly, taking control from 7-6 in the final game to seal a 21-13 win in 58 minutes.

In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod went down fighting against Lin Hsiang Ti 21-11, 19-21, 12-21.

On Tuesday, Indian seniors PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty started their Singapore Open campaign on a positive note, advancing to the next round after defeating their respective opponents.

Sindhu overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 21-18 in women’s singles, while Satwik-Chirag defeated Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in men’s doubles.

Sindhu, champion of the 2022 edition, defeated the fifth-seeded Indonesian in straight games to level their head-to-head record at 3-3. The Indian had early control in the opening game with a four-point advantage. Although she faced a brief setback, Sindhu quickly recovered to draw level at 16-all before winning five consecutive points to secure the first game.

The second game witnessed an intense battle for every point, with Sindhu taking the lead at crucial moments before sealing the match in straight games. She will next face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the pre-quarterfinals.

In men’s doubles, World No. 4 Satwik-Chirag dropped the opening game despite saving seven game points in a tightly contested battle. The Indian duo responded strongly to force a decider and then dominated the third game, closing it out 21-13 after one hour and 15 minutes of play. Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan await them in the Round of 16.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty put up a strong fight against Victor Lai. After taking the opening game comfortably 21-11, the Indians could not maintain the same intensity and eventually went down 14-21, 12-21 in the following games. Other Indian contingents in action on day 1 lost to their respective opponents.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian seniors PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their Singapore Open campaign on a positive note, advancing to the next round after defeating their respective opponents at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday.

Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 21-18 in women’s singles, while Satwik-Chirag defeated Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in men’s doubles.

Sindhu, champion of the 2022 edition, defeated the fifth-seeded Indonesian in straight games to level their head-to-head record at 3-3. The Indian had early control in the opening game with a four-point advantage. Although she faced a brief setback, Sindhu, who won the silver medal in the Rio Olympics and bronze in Tokyo Games played in 2021, quickly recovered to draw level at 16-all before winning five consecutive points to secure the first game.

The second game witnessed an intense battle for every point, with Sindhu taking the lead at crucial moments before sealing the match in straight games. She will next face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the pre-quarterfinals.

In men’s doubles, World No. 4 Satwik-Chirag dropped the opening game despite saving seven game points in a tightly contested battle. The Indian duo responded strongly to force a decider and then dominated the third game, closing it out 21-13 after one hour and 15 minutes of play. Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan await them in the Round of 16.

In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty put up a strong fight against Victor Lai. After taking the opening game comfortably 21-11, the Indians could not maintain the same intensity and eventually went down 14-21, 12-21 in the following games. Other Indian contingents in action on day 1 lost to their respective opponents.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Singapore Open 2026, a BWF Super 750 event beginning Tuesday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, is set to offer a crucial early-season test for India’s top shuttlers, with PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty leading a strong national contingent in a tournament packed with ranking implications.

Returning to competition after skipping the Malaysia Masters, Sindhu headlines India’s women’s singles challenge alongside Unnati Hooda and Malvika Bansod. The former world champion faces a demanding opener against Indonesia’s world No. 6 Putri Kusuma Wardani, against whom she trails 2-3 in their head-to-head record. Sindhu, however, will draw confidence from her strong history at the event, having won the title in 2022.

India’s men’s singles group also arrives with points to prove, as Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy look to rebound from early exits at the Malaysia Masters. Kidambi Srikanth and Ayush Shetty add further depth to the draw, returning to international action after missing the previous week’s competition.

In doubles, all eyes will be on the fourth-seeded Satwik-Chirag pair, who remain India’s strongest medal contenders in the men’s doubles category. They will be joined by the duo of MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan in the main draw.

India’s women’s doubles challenge will be led by Kavipriya Selvam-Simran Singhi in the absence of the injured Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, while Rutaparna Panda-Swetaparna Panda and Ashwini Bhat K-Shikha Gautam provide additional representation.

In mixed doubles, Tanisha Crasto-Dhruv Kapila and Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will look to make early impact in a competitive draw.

With Olympic qualification rankings beginning to take clearer shape, the Singapore Open presents an important opportunity for India’s top players to build momentum, test combinations, and secure crucial points against a world-class field.

Where to watch Singapore Open: Live streaming of the tournament’s matches will be available to watch on the BWF TV YouTube channel in India, while live telecast and TV channel details have not been announced yet.

India squad for Singapore Open:

Men’s singles: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth

Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, MR Arjun/Hariharan Amsakarunan

Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod

Women’s doubles: Ashwini Bhat K/Shikha Gautam, Rutaparna Panda/Swetaparna Panda, Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi

Mixed doubles: Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto

Source: IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chinese shuttlers booked spots in four finals at the 2026 Malaysia Masters after a strong showing in Saturday's semifinal matches in the BWF World Series event in the Malaysian capital.

In men's singles, Li Shifeng defeated compatriot Hu Zhe'an 21-17, 21-16 to advance to the final, where he will face Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul on Sunday. Women's singles star Chen Yufei cruised past Japan's Hina Akechi 21-11, 21-14 and will take on Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon in the title match.

In women's doubles, Chen Fanshutian and Luo Xumin rallied to beat fellow Chinese pair Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan 18-21, 21-9, 21-19, setting up a final clash against Japan's Sayaka Hirota and Ayako Sakuramoto, reports Xinhua.

Mixed doubles duo Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin also battled into the final after overcoming Denmark's Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje 22-24, 21-16, 21-18. They will meet Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the championship match.

Earlier, Chinese shuttlers stormed past their quarterfinal opponents on Friday, securing semifinal berths across multiple events.

Men's singles world junior champion Hu Zhe'an outplayed Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 14-21, 21-13, 21-16, while Li Shifeng defeated France's Toma Junior Popov 21-18, 15-21, 21-5.

Women's singles player Chen Yufei outplayed Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh 21-19, 21-9.

Women's doubles pair Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan overcame Chen Yan Fei and Sun Liang Ching of Chinese Taipei 21-14, 18-21, 21-15, while Chen Fanshutian and Luo Xumin overpowered Japan's Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi 24-22, 21-18.

Mixed doubles duo Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin outplayed Malaysia's Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-18, 21-16, while Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui defeated Presley Smith and Jennie Gai of the United States 23-21, 22-20.

Source: IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha's campaign at the Malaysia Masters came to an end after she lost to former European Games champion Line Kjaersfeldt of Denmark in the women’s singles quarterfinals here on Friday. With Chaliha's exit, India’s challenge also concluded at the BWF Super 500 tournament.

Chaliha, 71st in the badminton rankings, won the opening game but eventually went down against the 23rd-ranked opponent 23-21, 18-21, 11-21 in 61 minutes.

The Indian youngster started strong, commanding an 11-6 lead at the mid-game interval. Despite a fierce comeback from the 23rd-ranked Dane, who levelled the score at 17-all, Chaliha held her nerve to convert her third game point and take the first game 23-21.

Chaliha looked strong for a straight-games victory after racing to a 10-5 lead early in the second game. However, Kjaersfeldt flipped the momentum, closing the gap to 11-10 at the break. Post resumption, the Dane levelled the score at 13-all. She then broke away with a four-point streak to lead 18-15 and ultimately took the game 21-18, forcing a decider.

The final game started on an even note at 4-4 before Kjaersfeldt seized complete control, racing to 13-6 lead. Chaliha was unable to recover, and Kjaersfeldt comfortably wrapped up the match by taking the decider 21-11, which ended India's campaign in Kuala Lumpur.

The rest of the Indian contingent bowed out in their respective matches on Thursday. Malvika bowed out in the second round after a loss to former European Games champion Kjaersfeldt of Denmark on Thursday.

Devika Sihag also exited the women’s singles in the second round after a 21-16, 21-13 defeat to former Olympic champion and top seed Chinese Chen Yufei.

Meanwhile, India’s men's doubles campaign came to an end after MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan -- the only Indian pair at the BWF Super 500 tournament -- went down 21-14, 21-15 against Hu Keyuan and Lin Xiangyi of China.

In the mixed doubles, a duo of Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma suffered a 12-21, 25-27 loss against the USA’s Presley Smith and Jennie Gai.

India’s campaign in the men’s singles ended in the first round following the defeats of Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy on Wednesday.

Source: IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Ashmita Chaliha continued her impressive run at the Malaysia Masters, storming into the women’s singles quarterfinals with a 21-13, 21-16 win over Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei at the Stadium Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Starting from the qualifiers, Ashmita looked in complete control against the World No. 55, dominating the opening game with a comfortable win. Although Jin Wei attempted a fightback in the second game, the Indian shuttler never allowed her opponent to settle, wrapping up the contest in straight games in just 27 minutes.

With the victory, Ashmita reaches the quarterfinals of a Super 500 event for the third time in her career. She will next take on eighth-seeded Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark, who advanced after defeating two Indians, Anmol Kharb and Malvika Bansod. The rest of the Indian contingent bowed out in their respective matches.

Malvika bowed out in the second round after a loss to former European Games champion Kjaersfeldt of Denmark on Thursday. Despite winning the opening game at the Stadium Axiata Arena, World No. 51 Malvika lost 16-21, 21-8, 21-15 to the World No. 23 and eighth seed Danish shuttler. This was Olympian Kjaersfeldt's second win in three matches against Malvika.

Bansod’s compatriot Devika Sihag also exited the women’s singles in the second round after a 21-16, 21-13 defeat to former Olympic champion and top seed Chinese Chen Yufei.

Meanwhile, India’s men's doubles campaign came to an end after MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan -- the only Indian pair at the BWF Super 500 tournament -- went down 21-14, 21-15 against Hu Keyuan and Lin Xiangyi of China.

In the mixed doubles, a duo of Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma suffered a 12-21, 25-27 loss against the USA’s Presley Smith and Jennie Gai.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta believes her career could have reached even greater heights had she received consistent institutional backing and been kept away from controversies during her playing days. In an exclusive interview with IANS, the former doubles player made strong allegations against former Badminton Association of India (BAI) president VK Verma and coaches, claiming attempts were repeatedly made to sideline her career.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist opened up about the emotional and professional toll of repeatedly fighting the system while trying to compete at the highest level.

"VK Verma tried his best to end my career," she alleged. Recalling the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where she and Ashwini Ponnappa won gold before Saina Nehwal clinched her singles title later that evening, Gutta said she felt visible bias in the celebrations. “Ashwini and I were the first players to win gold because we played two hours before Saina. Technically, we were the first women to win gold.”

Gutta said she publicly voiced her frustration at the time and claimed that then-BAI president Verma celebrated Saina’s victory publicly while showing little enthusiasm for the doubles triumph. “After two hours, when Saina won, VK Verma ran on the court, celebrating her gold. Why was our gold less? That day I said in the interview, 'VK Verma is not happy that I won'."

She also alleged that Verma got her removed from the Indian team without explanation, despite her continued ability to contribute to Indian badminton, and then was again sidelined after the Rio Olympics, which eventually convinced her to step away from fighting the system.

“He threw me out of the team in 2006. No reason given. It's all on record. He threw me out again after the Rio Olympics. After that I thought, what's the use of fighting? There's no use,” Gutta remarked.

Even then, she argued she could still have contributed by helping younger doubles players develop through training and sparring. “I even said that if I am there, juniors will play with me, it will benefit them for sparring. Why are you throwing me out?”

Gutta insisted that no athlete willingly chooses conflict but said she was forced into battles simply to protect her career. “Which player wants to be in controversy? I had to fight for my right. If I didn't, I would have been finished long back. The system has to change. We have to make sports an affordable profession because without parents' moral or financial support, one can't become a player,” Gutta said.

Using Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra as an example, she underlined the importance of sustained investment and personalised support in building world champions.

“How much money has been spent on Neeraj Chopra? We should talk about that first. To become a world champion, how much personal attention should an athlete receive? Neeraj Chopra is a perfect example.”

Gutta then reflected on her own journey, claiming she rose to world No. 5 largely without financial backing or sponsorship support. “Without support and without financial backing, I reached world number five. Had I received support and sponsors, and had I been kept away from controversy, then I would have been world number one.”

Despite the disappointments, Gutta maintained that she still wants to contribute meaningfully to Indian sport and grassroots development. But she also acknowledged that in today’s sporting ecosystem, political influence often determines who gets heard.

“That's why it's important to be a politician. Politics is the easiest way now to come clean. No one will call you rebellious then.”

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former India doubles star Jwala Gutta has launched a sharp critique of the Indian badminton system, alleging monopolisation, favouritism and a lack of long-term vision in player development, while also questioning the lack of recognition for her contribution to the sport.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Gutta said the problems within Indian badminton run far deeper than individual decisions. The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist revealed that she has repeatedly approached authorities with proposals to contribute at the grassroots level through her academy, but claims she has largely been ignored.

“The whole system is a problem. It’s completely monopolised. Only one person decides everything. I have been saying for four years that I also have an academy. Don’t give me U-19 or senior camps — give me U-13 or U-15 players. Include me also. The kids will play well, then they will represent India,” Gutta said.

According to her, players training at her academy are often unfairly labelled because of her outspoken image.

“Whoever trains in Jwala Gutta Academy becomes ‘rebellious’. That’s the reputation they have made of mine,” she remarked.

The 14-time national champion also highlighted the role she played in bringing visibility to doubles badminton in India, arguing that many opportunities available to current players stem from the groundwork laid during her career.

“In 2006, if I hadn’t won a medal at the Commonwealth Games, badminton players would not have been on the priority list. Whatever exposure trips juniors are enjoying today is because of the path I led as a doubles player,” she said.

Despite India’s rise in doubles badminton in recent years, Gutta believes the discipline still does not receive the attention it deserves.

“Nobody is interested because they are just going about playing. They are not talking about how to improve the system,” she said while discussing the current state of women’s doubles in the country.

Gutta also opened up about the financial challenges of running a world-class badminton academy without institutional backing.

“My academy in Hyderabad is one of the biggest academies in the country. I have 14 courts spread across 50,000 square feet and I built it all alone. Still, I am not getting support,” she said.

Asked whether she had approached the Sports Ministry for assistance, Gutta admitted she had initially tried, but believes her image within the establishment works against her.

“I did initially, but their attitude is not that great. I’m infamous,” she claimed.

The former India star further argued that Indian sport often rewards image management and diplomacy over honesty and directness, especially in the case of women athletes.

“My duty is just to play badminton. That’s my straightforwardness. That’s why people talk to me, because I am straightforward. I will not hide and do things, and I will not bullshit anybody. If I say I’m straightforward, it becomes controversial. There is a difference between a man and a woman. If I say it, it becomes controversial, and people don’t like it,” Gutta opined.

She also expressed disappointment over not receiving the Padma Shri despite what she believes are significant contributions to Indian badminton. According to Gutta, public image and PR often overshadow sporting merit.

“I did not get my Padma Shri. If I send you my achievements, you will be shocked that I did not get a Padma Shri. Why am I not getting a Padma Shri? Because I didn’t do PR, I didn’t cry about poverty and struggle even though I went through all of it. I worked hard, I trained for 10 hours, but no one believes it because of the way I look,” she said.

Born to a Chinese mother and a Telugu father, Gutta added that societal perceptions surrounding appearance often shape how female athletes are viewed.

“If I like to colour my hair and have pedicures and manicures, it translates to me not being a serious athlete. This is not my fault, but it is true. As a player, where did I lack in my career? If someone knows doubles in India, to be very frank, that is because of me; otherwise, no one would know it.

“So what respect and acknowledgement have I received — even from the government? Forget the association, leave it. I am talking about the government. Why does this government want to ignore me? I don’t know,” she said.

Reflecting on her generation’s mindset, Gutta added that athletes of her era believed performance alone would ensure recognition.

“We came from a generation where we believed everything else would fall into place if you performed well. My duty was just to play good badminton. I didn’t know PR was that important. Had I known, I would have danced to songs and made reels,” Gutta stated.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian badminton icon Jwala Gutta has never been one to hold back, either during her playing days or after retirement. In a candid interaction with IANS, the 2011 World Championships bronze medallist criticised what she described as a growing culture of silence and compromise within Indian sport, particularly badminton.

In an exclusive interview, Gutta questioned why athletes — especially established stars — avoid speaking openly about structural problems within the system despite benefiting from the visibility and success it provides. She also expressed disappointment with former players who have moved into administrative roles but, according to her, have failed to push for meaningful reforms.

For Gutta, India’s lack of bench strength remains one of the clearest signs of systemic failure.

“No one is talking. Everyone is adjusting, compromising. Even the association. The worst part is the players, ex-players who are getting into the association. Even they are not feeling bad that there is no bench strength,” Gutta said.

Drawing comparisons with China’s badminton ecosystem, she added: “Look at China; if one world champion gets injured, there is another world champion waiting in line. He will play in one or two tournaments and become a world champion. That is what you call bench strength, and we don’t have bench strength.”

The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist argued that grassroots development continues to suffer because opportunities and support often depend more on influence than merit.

Referring to her experience of running an academy in Hyderabad, Gutta said securing financial backing has been an uphill task despite her credentials and the non-profit nature of the initiative.

“Even I have opened an academy, and I know how much I am struggling to get some donations. It is a completely non-profit organisation, but I am struggling to get CSR because I am not influential enough and I don’t have good relations like others,” she said.

Gutta also claimed that her outspoken nature has distanced her from the sporting establishment. “Because I speak my mind, now I am not liked by the system. I am not liked by people who are ruling right now, whether it is badminton or otherwise.”

The doubles specialist revisited her long-standing battles with badminton authorities during her playing career, insisting that her fight was never about securing favours, but about protecting her right to compete.

“I never asked anything personally for myself. I went to the high court for the right to play because someone was saying he would stop me from playing.”

Despite being national champion and world No. 5, Gutta said she frequently had to fund her own international tournaments while lower-ranked players received federation support.

“Even though I was the national champion in 2007, 2008, and 2009, I played international tournaments at my own cost. My juniors were sent with the Indian team, and they were losing in qualifying rounds, while I won tournaments.”

What hurt her most, she said, was the silence from fellow athletes during her toughest phases.

“When sports persons are in trouble, they seek someone to speak for them. But when I was in trouble, not one sports person opened his or her mouth.”

Gutta’s remarks also came in the backdrop of recent comments made by Indian doubles star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who on May 6 voiced frustration over the lack of recognition for Indian athletes after returning from Denmark, where India secured a historic bronze medal at the Thomas Cup.

While clarifying that his comments were not about money or celebrations, Satwik had stressed the need for a sporting culture that values and celebrates achievements across disciplines.

Referring to his remarks, Gutta said athletes often realise the shortcomings of the system only when they personally experience neglect.

“Now you see, what did Satwik say? He said no one is looking at us. Why will they look at us? You don’t say anything.”

According to Gutta, athletes who have already achieved fame and financial stability have a responsibility to advocate for the next generation. “You have achieved a certain level, you should speak for the badminton of the country. As long as you are performing and have enough exposure, no one can touch you.”

She further argued that many players fail to build identities beyond sport because they avoid expressing opinions publicly.

“After you stop playing badminton, everyone will stop talking about you because you never spoke. You never said anything apart from badminton.”

Reflecting on her own journey, Gutta credited her family’s strong support for giving her the courage to stand up to authorities throughout her career.

“I say I am lucky. I got a family who encouraged me and were my backbone. I could fight against the association because my family supported me.”

She concluded with a broader point about privilege and responsibility in society.

“If privileged people are not speaking for people who are not privileged, then what is going to happen to our country?”

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian badminton icon Jwala Gutta has sparked an important conversation around maternal and infant healthcare after revealing that she donated nearly 60 litres of breast milk to government hospitals in Hyderabad and Chennai during the first year after childbirth.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Gutta said the initiative was never part of a grand plan but something she embraced after encouragement from her doctors.

Her revelation, shared on social media, drew widespread appreciation for highlighting the life-saving role of donor breast milk for premature and critically ill newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

On X, the Arjuna awardee stressed the importance of donor milk, noting that just "100 ml of donor milk can feed a tiny 1 kg baby for several days," potentially supporting many vulnerable infants. She explained that donor milk acts as a critical bridge for babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed due to medical conditions, malnutrition, stress or premature delivery.

Breast milk is widely regarded as the gold standard in infant nutrition, especially for preterm babies. Rich in antibodies, enzymes, hormones and essential nutrients, it strengthens immunity, supports gut development and reduces the risk of severe complications such as necrotising enterocolitis.

“I didn’t really plan for this. I honestly didn’t know much about breast milk donation,” two-time Olympian shuttler told IANS. "My gynaecologist and paediatrician encouraged me and explained that many new mothers are unable to produce milk for various medical and nutritional reasons."

She also pointed to the harsh realities faced by economically weaker families, where limited access to nutritious food and healthcare often affects maternal health.

"Many people live below the poverty line and don’t get proper nutrition, which impacts milk production. There are also a lot more preterm babies nowadays," she said.

Speaking on broader health concerns, the former shuttler said changing lifestyles, environmental pollution and lack of awareness have worsened maternal and infant health challenges.

"Diet issues, lack of medical assistance, poor awareness, lifestyle changes, adulterated food, polluted air and contaminated water — all of these factors are affecting people," she added.

The 42-year-old candidly acknowledged her own privilege, saying access to nutritious food, clean water and domestic support made it possible for her to continue donating milk consistently.

"I am privileged, let me say that very clearly. I drink mineral water at home and have always been careful about hygiene since I suffered jaundice early in my badminton career," she said.

"I realised I was producing more milk than my child needed, so I thought, why not help others? To donate, you have to be disciplined. You need to pump every two to three hours," she shared.

Asked whether the process was physically exhausting, Gutta admitted it was painful and tiring, but worthwhile because of the impact it could have on vulnerable newborns.

"It is painful and tiring, but I thought if it could help someone, why not? I never thought I was doing something extraordinary. I genuinely believed it was normal,” she said.

Reflecting on the public reaction, she added, "We are living in a time where normal things seem abnormal."

The former world championships medallist also clarified that she intentionally kept her pregnancy and motherhood private and away from commercial endorsements.

“If you look at my Instagram, even during pregnancy I wasn’t doing brand promotions. Motherhood and pregnancy were personal experiences for me. I wanted to enjoy them for myself, not for public attention," she said.

According to Gutta, speaking openly about breast milk donation became important after she realised how little awareness existed around the issue despite the rising number of premature births and malnourished mothers.

"I thought if I spoke about it, it would help normalise the conversation. I was surprised people weren’t talking about it more," she said.

She credited her doctors, including gynaecologist Dr Manjula Nagani, for encouraging awareness around the subject.

"I’m not a superhuman. If I can do it, others who are privileged and capable can do it too. I had the time, support and nutrition needed after delivery. If it can help small children, why not?" she said.

Addressing concerns among mothers that donating milk could affect their own child’s nutrition, Gutta emphasised the importance of medical guidance.

"That’s why doctors are there. You should always consult them. There are ways to increase milk supply. Obviously, no one should compromise their own child’s nutrition, but many mothers produce excess milk that eventually gets discarded,” she said.

"I later learnt that breast milk is called ‘liquid gold’, so why throw away something so valuable? Now that I have a baby, seeing starving children affects me ten times more," she said.

Concluding with a heartfelt appeal, she reiterated that breast milk donation should be viewed as a normal and compassionate act.

"It is a very normal thing to do. People should talk about it more. I’m just a normal human being — if I can do it, anyone can," Gutta said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian badminton star PV Sindhu shared an emotional tribute to Virat Kohli after the two sporting greats met at the recent RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Later, the two-time Olympic medallist posted a photograph with the former India captain on Instagram along with a heartfelt message that quickly resonated across social media.

“Every time I’ve needed guidance, you’ve always been there with the right advice and the right words. There is no better example of what a true senior in Indian sport should be: generous, grounded, inspiring, and always willing to lift others. “Never back down, PV.” Advice taken. Keep being the absolute force of a human being that you are. Indian sport is better because of people like you,” Sindhu wrote on Instagram.

Sindhu has been gradually regaining momentum after a challenging year marked by injuries. The former world champion demonstrated promising form in the latter part of the season, showcasing solid performances on the international stage. She reached the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open earlier this month before being defeated by Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.

She also made a strong impression during India’s Uber Cup run, despite the team’s challenges, and recently assumed a significant off-court leadership position as Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission, which grants her voting rights on the Badminton World Federation Council.

Kohli, on the other hand, continues to be a key figure in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s quest for another IPL title. The team has already qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs following a successful league stage that relied on experienced leadership and steady batting performances.

The 37-year-old has again been a key player for RCB this season, notably scoring an unbeaten century to secure a victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at a pivotal stage of the tournament.

Beyond cricket, Kohli has actively participated in RCB’s broader sporting and leadership initiatives. At the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, he was a prominent speaker, engaging in discussions on athlete performance, leadership, recovery, mental conditioning, and the future of Indian sports.

Source: IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, May 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian men’s doubles pair Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun produced one of the biggest upsets of the opening round at the Malaysia Masters on Tuesday, defeating seventh seeds Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov in straight games.

Facing the European Championships silver medallists, the Indian duo entered the contest as clear underdogs but delivered a composed performance to register a 21-19, 21-15 victory and advance to the second round.

Hariharan and Arjun edged out a tense opening game after staying level for most of the contest, then carried the momentum into the second, where they controlled the rallies more confidently to close out the match in two games.

The result marks another encouraging step for the Indian pair, who have steadily built momentum over the past year on the international circuit. The duo claimed titles at the Telangana India International Challenge in November last year and also lifted trophies at the Turkiye International Challenge and Al Ain Masters in October. Earlier in the season, they also won the St. Denis Reunion Open.

Currently ranked World No. 31, the Indians now have an opportunity to break into the top 30 if they can put together a deep run in Kuala Lumpur.

In the next round, Hariharan and Arjun will face either Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin or China’s Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi. The Indian pair had previously suffered a quarterfinal defeat against Carnando and Bagas Maulana at the Orleans Masters earlier this year.

Elsewhere, India had mixed results across categories on the tournament's opening day. The mixed doubles pair of Sathwik Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma advanced through qualifying after beating the Malaysian pair of Datu Asrah and Clarissa San.

In women’s singles qualifying, Ashmita Chaliha advanced with a win over Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei, while Aakarshi Kashyap bowed out after losing to South Korea’s Park Ga Eun. India also endured disappointment in women’s doubles, where Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam were beaten in the opening round by Canada’s Jackie Dent and Crystal Lai.

Meanwhile, India’s top men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty skipped the Malaysia Masters as part of workload management after their recent runners-up finish at the Thailand Open.

Source: IANS

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Patumwan, May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s leading men’s doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will skip the upcoming Malaysia Masters as the pair continues to carefully manage their schedule following an encouraging run to the Thailand Open final.

After settling for silver on Sunday, the Indian duo confirmed they will not compete in Malaysia and will instead return for the Singapore, Indonesia and Australia legs of the tour.

“No, we are not playing Malaysia. We are playing Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia,” Reddy mentioned after the contest.

The decision comes after Satwik and Chirag showed signs of rediscovering rhythm and confidence during their campaign in Thailand, where they reached their first final in recent weeks before losing 21-12, 25-23 to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in a high-speed contest at Nimibutr Stadium.

While the opening game slipped away quickly, the Indian duo mounted a spirited fightback in the second, saving four championship points before narrowly falling short. Reflecting on the match, Shetty admitted the pace of the conditions made it difficult for the pair to settle early.

“Yeah, I think we didn't start off that well. Shuttles were quite fast and we were trying to keep it low as much as possible. But we were always on the back foot. But second game we were taking the shuttle a lot higher and mixing it up with some flicks as well. But in the end, it wasn't enough,” Shetty said.

The Indians initially struggled to adapt to both the shuttle's speed and the aggressive style imposed by the Indonesian pair, particularly on the faster side of the court.

“Yeah, on the first side we played on the faster side. It was a little difficult for us to control. They took us into their game style and it was tough. But it took time for us to adjust. The way we played the second game, I think a little bit sharper in those few points, maybe we could have won the third game,” Reddy said.

Much of the final unfolded at blistering pace around the net, with very few lifted exchanges as both pairs attempted to maintain attacking control throughout the rallies.

“Hardly. The shuttles were also quite fast. When the shuttles were new, it was really really fast and it was very difficult to adjust. And the rallies were so fast that you didn't really know how hard you need to hit to control it. But it was quite fast today compared to the rest of the game,” Shetty said.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the title, the Indian pair viewed the week as another important step in regaining the sharpness and belief that had previously made them one of the world’s most dangerous doubles teams.

Reddy acknowledged that confidence had dipped over recent months, but felt the partnership was steadily moving back towards its best level.

“Except today, the way we played, I think we are getting back that touch. I think we should believe more and be confident on court rather than playing 50-50. I feel like from the starting onward, we are 50 when we enter on the court. But before, one year back, we were always 90% confident. But we are getting back that confidence. So happy with how we played this weekend. It's more about mental rather than physical I think. But things have started working to ourselves. I think maybe sooner or later, very soon, we will be on the winning side rather than second. But happy,” Reddy said.

Shetty echoed that assessment and pointed to India’s recent Thomas Cup campaign as a turning point in helping the pair regain trust in their game.

“Yeah, I think in the start of the year, we played well like I said before. But slowly we are getting back the confidence I feel. Especially after the Thomas Cup, we felt a lot more confident in our game. Although we lost today, but I think we could go on,” Shetty said.

Although the Thailand Open ended with another runners-up finish, the week offered encouraging signs for the Indian duo ahead of a demanding stretch of tournaments later in the season.

Source: IANS

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Patumwan (Thailand), May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty finished runners-up at the Thailand Open after going down to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin 21-12, 25-23 in a 53-minute final at the Nimibutr Stadium in Thailand.

A difficult opening game saw Satwik and Chirag struggle to find momentum, with the Indonesians racing away to a 21-12 win. The Indian duo bounced back in the second game, producing a strong fightback and taking it down to the wire, where, after saving five championship points in a row, they eventually succumbed to a 25-23 defeat.

Earlier, they reached their first final of the 2026 season after defeating Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in a thrilling semifinal on Saturday.

The world No. 4 Indian duo, seeded first in the tournament, won a gripping match 19-21, 22-20, 21-16. The contest lasted one hour and 22 minutes, extending their head-to-head record against the Malaysians to 8-2.

With PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen already out of the tournament, Satwik and Chirag carried India’s hopes in Bangkok and handled the pressure well in front of a lively crowd that made the semifinal a high-stakes battle.

The Indian duo aimed for their first title since winning the Thailand Open in 2024 and their first final appearance since the China Masters in 2025.

The Malaysian pair started strong, leading 3-1 in the opening game before Satwik and Chirag tied it at 7-7. However, a few moments of hesitation and miscommunication allowed Goh and Izzuddin to gain an advantage.

The Malaysians went into the interval with a three-point lead and later increased it to 18-12, appearing to be in control. But Satwik and Chirag made a strong comeback, scoring four consecutive points to get back into the match.

Source: IANS

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Bangkok, May 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Chinese badminton team secured berths in three finals at the Thailand Open 2026 on Saturday, with Chen Yufei, Bao Lijing/Cao Zihan, and Zhu Yijun/Li Qian advancing to the women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles finals, respectively.

In the women's doubles semifinals, Chinese pair Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan defeated Chinese Taipei's Hu Ling-fang and Jheng Yu-chieh, 21-18, 21-17, in just 40 minutes. The young pair will face the Japanese pair Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi in the title decider.

Defending champion Chen Yufei sealed a straight-games win over Japan's Hina Akechi to advance to the women's singles final and will compete for the championship against her long-time rival, Akane Yamaguchi of Japan.

China's mixed doubles shuttlers Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Denmark's Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje after an 84-minute gruelling battle. Meanwhile, fellow Chinese pair Zhu Yijun and Li Qian held their nerve to beat Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran 2-1, setting up a final clash against the Danish combination.

In the men's singles, Chinese shuttler Shi Yuqi withdrew before the semifinal, handing a walkover victory to Denmark's Anders Antonsen. The final will see Antonsen take on Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

The men's doubles saw Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin of Indonesia defeat China's He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu 21-15, 21-18. In the final, they will play India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

The Indian doubles pair reached its first final of the 2026 season after defeating Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in a thrilling semifinal. The world No. 4 Indian duo, seeded first in the tournament, won a gripping match 19-21, 22-20, 21-16. The contest lasted one hour and 22 minutes, extending their head-to-head record against the Malaysians to 8-2.

Source: IANS

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Patumwan (Thailand), May 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s top men's doubles team, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, reached their first final of the 2026 season after defeating Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin in a thrilling semifinal at the Thailand Open Super 500 in Bangkok on Saturday.

The world No. 4 Indian duo, seeded first in the tournament, won a gripping match 19-21, 22-20, 21-16. The contest lasted one hour and 22 minutes, extending their head-to-head record against the Malaysians to 8-2.

With PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen already out of the tournament, Satwik and Chirag carried India’s hopes in Bangkok and handled the pressure well in front of a lively crowd that made the semifinal a high-stakes battle.

The Indian duo aimed for their first title since winning the Thailand Open in 2024 and their first final appearance since the China Masters in 2025.

The Malaysian pair started strong, leading 3-1 in the opening game before Satwik and Chirag tied it at 7-7. However, a few moments of hesitation and miscommunication allowed Goh and Izzuddin to gain an advantage.

The Malaysians went into the interval with a three-point lead and later increased it to 18-12, appearing to be in control. But Satwik and Chirag made a strong comeback, scoring four consecutive points to get back into the match.

Each time the Indians closed the gap, the Malaysians held their ground and eventually took the first game 21-19.

The second game was even more dramatic. Both teams exchanged leads in a tense battle, but Satwik and Chirag displayed more confidence and composure than in the first game. They resolved their communication issues and went on a four-point run to lead 11-9 at the break.

After the interval, Goh and Izzuddin fought back and briefly regained control. However, the Indian pair responded with aggressive plays and built a three-point lead late in the game.

Just when it seemed Satwik and Chirag would win comfortably, the Malaysians saved two game points to tie it at 20-20, leading to the first extra-points finish between the two teams.

What followed was one of the tournament's best rallies, filled with fierce defense, sharp net exchanges, and relentless attacks. Satwik finally scored the crucial point with a perfectly placed shot out of the Malaysians' reach, and the Indians claimed the second game 22-20.

Carrying that momentum, Satwik and Chirag dominated the final game, maintaining control for most of the match before clinching a memorable victory 21-16 to secure their spot in the final.

The Indian pair will face either Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin or China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in Sunday’s final.

Source: IANS

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Pathumwan (Thaliland), May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Lakshya Sen, the runner-up at the All England Open, was eliminated by Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the quarterfinals of the men's singles of the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Friday.

Kunlavut started with an early 11-2 lead in the opening game, but Lakshya responded strongly with five consecutive points to reduce the deficit to four. Despite a hard fight, the Indian shuttler could not get past the Olympic silver medallist loosing 19-21, 16-21.

Earlier, India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, moved into the semifinals of the Thailand Open with a strong victory in Bangkok on Friday.

Meanwhile, P. V. Sindhu faced a quarterfinal exit after losing a tough match against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.

The top-seeded Indian men’s doubles team dominated Japan’s Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami, winning 21-12, 21-13 in just 41 minutes. This marks their first semifinal appearance at a BWF World Tour event in 2026.

Playing against the world No. 34 Japanese pair for the first time, Satwik and Chirag were in full control from the start. They jumped to an impressive 10-0 lead in the first game before Nomura and Shimogami finally scored.

Although the sixth-seeded Japanese pair made a brief comeback after the interval and cut the lead to four points at 10-14, the Indian duo quickly regained their edge to finish the opening game with ease.

The second game was a bit more competitive at the beginning, with the Japanese pair staying within two points for much of the first half. However, Satwik and Chirag kept their cool and gradually pulled away, closing out the match decisively.

The world No. 4 Indian pair, looking for their first title since winning the Thailand Open in 2024, will face either Malaysia’s third-seeded pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin or Scotland’s Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley in the semifinals.

Earlier, double Olympic medallist Sindhu lost her match 21-19, 18-21, 15-21 to top seed and world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in a hard-fought women's singles quarterfinal.

Sindhu started the match with a good 15-11 head-to-head record against the Japanese star and managed to win a tight opening game, trading points until the score was tied at 19-19. She then won the next two points to take the lead.

In the second game, the sixth-seeded Sindhu looked strong as she held a four-point lead at the mid-game interval. However, a string of unforced errors allowed Yamaguchi to take seven straight points and turn the match around.

The Japanese player took advantage of this shift to push the match into a deciding game and dominated the third game to secure victory in 61 minutes.

Source: IANS

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Pathumwan (Thaliland), May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, moved into the semifinals of the Thailand Open with a strong victory in Bangkok on Friday.

Meanwhile, P. V. Sindhu faced a quarterfinal exit after losing a tough match against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.

Later on Friday, Lakshya Sen was set to compete against reigning champion and home favourite Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the men’s singles quarterfinals.

The top-seeded Indian men’s doubles team dominated Japan’s Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami, winning 21-12, 21-13 in just 41 minutes. This marks their first semifinal appearance at a BWF World Tour event in 2026.

Playing against the world No. 34 Japanese pair for the first time, Satwik and Chirag were in full control from the start. They jumped to an impressive 10-0 lead in the first game before Nomura and Shimogami finally scored.

Although the sixth-seeded Japanese pair made a brief comeback after the interval and cut the lead to four points at 10-14, the Indian duo quickly regained their edge to finish the opening game with ease.

The second game was a bit more competitive at the beginning, with the Japanese pair staying within two points for much of the first half. However, Satwik and Chirag kept their cool and gradually pulled away, closing out the match decisively.

The world No. 4 Indian pair, looking for their first title since winning the Thailand Open in 2024, will face either Malaysia’s third-seeded pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin or Scotland’s Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley in the semifinals.

Earlier, double Olympic medallist Sindhu lost her match 21-19, 18-21, 15-21 to top seed and world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi in a hard-fought women's singles quarterfinal.

Sindhu started the match with a good 15-11 head-to-head record against the Japanese star and managed to win a tight opening game, trading points until the score was tied at 19-19. She then won the next two points to take the lead.

In the second game, the sixth-seeded Sindhu looked strong as she held a four-point lead at the mid-game interval. However, a string of unforced errors allowed Yamaguchi to take seven straight points and turn the match around.

The Japanese player took advantage of this shift to push the match into a deciding game and dominated the third game to secure victory in 61 minutes.

Source: IANS

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Bangkok, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Thomas Cup bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty prevailed in the Thailand Open, a BWF Super 500 badminton tournament, after their respective second wins here on Thursday.

World No. 12 Sindhu registered an easy straight-games 21-13, 21-15 win over Danish shuttler Amalie Schulz in a match that lasted for just 28 minutes.

This was Sindhu second straight game win in this tournament after the former world champion defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong 21-9, 21-12 in the opening round match.

Sindhu will next play familiar foe and reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the quarter-final. The Indian ace holds a 15-13 edge over the Japanese in a head-to-head record.

On the other hand, Satwik and Chirag went past the Malaysian duo of Bryan Jeremy Goonting and Muhammad Haikal in straight games, 21-12 and 21-19, in what was the pairs' first career meeting.

Notably, Satwik and Chirag are the only top seeds in the draw with previous success in the tournament (2019, 2024). They will next take on sixth-seed Japanese duo Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami for a place in the semifinals.

The top-seed Indians, who entered the tournament fresh from India’s Thomas Cup bronze medal finish, had started off with a 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 win over Indonesians Muh Putra Erwiansyah and Bagas Maulana.

Later in the day, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Malvika Bansod and Thailand Masters 2026 champion Devika Sihag will be in action.

In the opening round, Srikanth upset eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in straight games, 21-14, 21-15. Lakshya, returning from his injury at the Thomas Cup, defeated Singapore's Jia Heng Jason Teh 21-16, 21-17 in 43 minutes.

Devika defeated N. Nidaira of Japan in the preliminary round, while World No. 50 Bansod, who is still on the mend from an ACL surgery to her left knee, emerged from a roller-coaster of a contest against Zhang Wen Yu (13-21, 26-24, 21-13).

However, world No. 48 Kharb's campaign ended in the opening round on Thursday after going down 21-19, 13-21, 18-21 in a hard-fought battle against world No. 4 Chen Yu Fei in a match lasting one hour and ten minutes.

Source: IANS

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Bangkok, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) India experienced a mixed day at the Thailand Open on Wednesday as P. V. Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth advanced comfortably to the second round, while rising star Ayush Shetty bowed out after a spirited fight.

Former world champion Sindhu barely broke a sweat in her opening-round clash, dismantling Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong 21-9, 21-12 in just 33 minutes. The sixth seed controlled the rallies from the outset, mixing sharp placement with aggressive court coverage to seal one of her quickest wins of the season.

The two-time Olympic medallist, still searching for her first BWF World Tour crown since the 2024 Syed Modi International, will next face Denmark’s Amalie Schulz in a first-ever meeting between the pair.

Srikanth produced a polished display to move into the round of 16, defeating Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 21-14, 21-15 in a rematch of the 2021 World Championships final.

The Indian, who lifted the Thailand Open title back in 2013, looked assured throughout and rarely allowed the eighth seed to dictate play despite a brief late challenge in the second game.

The former world No. 1 will now take on Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang for a place in the quarter-finals.

Ayush Shetty, however, could not sustain momentum against Japanese sixth seed Kodai Naraoka despite forcing the contest into a decider.

Entering the match with a favourable 2-1 head-to-head record, the Indian recovered impressively after losing the opening game, levelling proceedings at one game apiece. But the third game turned entirely one-sided as Naraoka tightened control with his trademark retrievals and relentless pace, racing away to a dominant 21-13, 17-21, 21-4 victory in 59 minutes.

Elsewhere, teenager Unnati Hooda stunned the home favourite, Pornpawee Chochuwong, with an 11-21, 21-17, 21-16 win.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Anmol Kharb fell short to topple reigning champion Chen Yu Fei. After taking the first game and building an 11-2 advantage in the decider, the Indian could not halt the Chinese star’s comeback as Chen raised the intensity after the interval to clinch a hard-fought 19-21, 21-13, 21-18 win.

Elsewhere, Tharun Mannepalli’s campaign ended in straight games against Japan’s Koki Watanabe.

Later in the day, Lakshya Sen, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag, Malvika Bansod and Isharani Baruah are scheduled to play in singles, while three Indian pairs are also set to compete in mixed doubles.

Source: IANS

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Bangkok, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's former World No.1 pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty began their campaign in the Thailand Open 2026 on a successful note, securing a hard-fought win in the BWF World Tour at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday.

Top seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, ranked fourth in the badminton World rankings, beat Indonesia’s unseeded pair of Putra Erwiansyah and Bagas Maulana 21-19, 23-21, 21-10 to enter the second round. The duo will next take on Malaysia's Goonting Bryan, Jeremy, and Haikal Muhammad in the Round of 16.

Trailing 16-11 after following a sluggish start in their Round of 32 match, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the reigning Asian Games champions, stormed back with seven straight points to seize control and edge a tight opening game.

The second game saw the momentum swing as the Indonesian pair fought back from 11-9 down to take the game into a tie-break, which they won to set up a decider.

However, the top Indian players ensured there were no further hiccups as they dominated the final game from the start and closed out the contest in an hour and four minutes.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are eyeing their third Thailand Open title. They previously won the BWF World Tour Super 500 Series event twice - in 2019 and 2024.

However, there was heartbreak for India’s other men’s doubles duo, MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan, as they were knocked out in the first round, going down 21-18, 22-20 to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-Chieh and Chen Zhi-Ray.

In women's doubles, Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda, India’s sole women’s pair in the main draw, also lost their opener 21-9, 21-11 against Chih-Chun Lin and Yang Chu-Yun of Chinese Taipei.

In the men’s singles qualifying matches, Manav Choudhary gave Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia a close fight but lost 21-19, 21-18.

Anushka Shahapurkar also exited in the women’s singles qualifiers after a 21-5, 21-7 defeat to Thailand’s Yataweemin Ketklieng.

Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan’s mixed doubles campaign also ended in the qualifiers after a 21-11, 21-18 defeat to Tsai Fu-Cheng and Sung Yu-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei.

India have sent a sizeable 27-member contingent competing at the BWF Super 500 tournament in Bangkok this year.

Among other Indian players, young star Ayush Shetty will meet eighth seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan, while compatriot Tharun Mannepalle will beat another Japanese, Koki Watanabe, while Kidambi Srikanth will open against the eighth-ranked Loh Kean Yew.

Seventh seed Lakshya Sen, ranked 11th in the World, will start with a clash with Jai Heng Jason Leh on Tuesday.

Source: IANS

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Baoji (China), May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Maisnam Luwang Meiraba and Tushar Suveer made winning starts while Dhruv Negi made an early exit from the 2026 Baoji China Masters, the BWF World Tour Super 100 event that has a total purse of $120,000 and started at the Baoji City Gymnasium in Baoji, China, on Tuesday.

Meiraba defeated Erfan Majeed Hajibeigy of Malaysia 21-14. 21-14 and will next play Huang Ping-Hsien of Chinese Taipei in the Round of 16 on Wednesday. Tushar Suveer defeated Chang Han-Tsai of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-9. He set up a clash with third seed Richie Duta Richardo of Indonesia in what is the third edition of the event organised by the Chinese Badminton Association and sanctioned by the BWF.

Dhruv Negi was the third Indian to take the court, losing to Sun Chao of China 13-21, 8-21 in a rather one-sided clash.

Among other Indians in the Round of 32, Manraj Singh received a bye and will play Toma Noda of Japan in the Round of 16. Ginpaul Sonna also got a bye in the first round. In other first-round matches, Nicholas Raj will play Yi Liu of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

In the women's singles, top seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj will meet compatriot Shreya Lele in the first round on Wednesday. In contrast, seventh seed Ashmita Chaliha will play Sakura Masuki of Japan.

Third seed Shriyanshi Valishetty, World Ranked 53, to play Han Tu Chen of Chinese Taipei, while Madhavi Nagar will take on sixth seed Mutiara Ayu Puspitasari of Indonesia. Mansi Singh will meet Yuan An Qi of China. Second seed Tanya Hemanth, World Ranked 54th, Tonrug Saeheng, in the event, which is the eleventh tournament of the 2026 BWF World Tour.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian footballer Sumit Rathi has shared a different perspective on the debate surrounding Indian athletes, other than cricketers, not getting enough recognition, arguing that an achievement's value remains unchanged whether or not a crowd is waiting at the airport.

His comments came after Indian badminton star Satwiksairaj Rankireddy expressed disappointment over the lack of recognition for athletes from non-cricket sports in India, recalling how members of the historic Thomas Cup bronze-winning team returned quietly from Denmark without much public attention, and no one was there to receive them at the airport.

Satwik had said that despite wearing India jerseys and achieving one of the country’s biggest badminton milestones, most people at the airport were more focused on IPL and politics. He added that winning bronze in the Thomas Cup was extremely difficult and felt such historic moments should have been celebrated more across the country.

Reacting to those concerns, Rathi said public attention and airport crowds do not define an athlete’s achievement.

“I feel that the game I am playing, I am not competing with 10 or 12 countries. I am competing with 200-plus countries. The whole world plays football,” Rathi told IANS. “So even if the airport is empty, it doesn't matter. Because my achievement is neither less nor more by filling the airport or being empty. That achievement remains an achievement,” he added.

The defender said footballers should focus on their performances and taking Indian football to a higher level instead of comparing popularity with athletes from other sports.

“I just want to do my work for my country with good intent and good effort. If we don’t do it today, we will do it tomorrow. But if achievements reach people, then support will definitely come,” he said.

Rathi also stressed that even limited recognition matters because football in India is still growing.

“Right now, maybe one million people don’t know you, but at least ten thousand people know you. That is also an achievement. I want to try abroad. I want to take my country to a higher level. Automatically, when we do well, people will support us,” Rathi concluded.

Meanwhile, Satwiksairaj also gave a clarification on his comments on Friday, saying his disappointment did not come from a desire for personal glory or financial gain but was about the emotional impact of "silence" following major international milestones.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian star shuttler and Khel Ratna awardee Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has hit back to those who had misinterpreted his recent comments on the lack of public reception for the Thomas Cup bronze medal-winning team, saying his disappointment did not come from a desire for personal glory or financial gain but was about the emotional impact of "silence" following major international milestones.

The 2022 champions, India, returned to the podium in 2026 Thomas Cup and returned with a bronze medal. But when the team returned to India, the lack of a celebratory homecoming said a lot more than the medal itself.

Satiwk had shared two pictures of the squad that travelled to Horsens to compete for the Thomas Cup and their return to home, with a cryptic caption, "How it started, how it's going'. It was seen that there was no grand departure or welcome for the team.

Taking to social media, Satwik clarified that his intent was to "foster a culture that encourages and celebrates" rather than seek personal fame.

"The last few days have brought a lot of attention to my recent comments regarding the lack of a reception for our Thomas Cup bronze medal. While I am grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement, I want to clarify my intent because I see many people deviating from the original point.

"My words did not come from a place of wanting personal fame or taking credit away from anyone else's achievements. I have the utmost respect for every athlete who brings glory to India, regardless of the sport," Satwik wrote in a lengthy social media post.

"My message was simple: we need to foster a culture that encourages and celebrate every win, big or small. Whether it is a World Cup medal or a podium finish in global championship like the Thomas Cup, these moments represent years of sacrifice and hard work. When such milestones are met with silence, it feels disheartening not just for us, but for the future generations of Indian athletes who are watching," he added.

The world no. 3 doubles players pointed out that while athletes don't necessarily crave financial rewards, the "silence" following such global achievements can be disheartening.

"We don't want money or grand parades; we just want to know that our country is watching and that our efforts are seen. Let's come together to support all sports with the same passion and "angle." Next time, let it not be about who won more or less, but about celebrating everyone who wears the India jersey. Thank you for standing by me. Let's keep playing for India," he said.

Earlier, in a press conference felicitated by SAI, Satwik's doubles partner Chirag Shetty had said, "I feel the way it should have been celebrated (India's Thomas Cup bronze), it didn’t get celebrated as much. The fans who actually follow badminton and understand the sport knew how big the tournament was, but the general public still didn’t really know the magnitude of the result. That sometimes makes me sad."

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) India shuttler HS Prannoy has expressed reservations over the decision by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to introduce a 3x15-point scoring system from January 2027, stating that the existing 21-point format offered a more complete test of a player’s game.

Reacting to the change, Prannoy admitted the new system brings curiosity but questioned its overall impact. “It's going to be interesting. Obviously, a point change is definitely an interesting aspect of the game. I’m not a big fan of 15 points; I would say 21 points was the best. As players, we all agreed to that,” he said during a press conference felicitated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The Indian ace pointed out that shorter matches could create unpredictability, especially in challenging conditions. He explained that in venues with heavy drift, even 21-point games tend to finish quickly, raising concerns over the reduced margin for recovery in the new format. Prannoy warned that matches could end in as little as 20-25 minutes, potentially affecting the spectator experience.

At the same time, he acknowledged a possible upside. With reduced match durations, recovery time would improve, which could benefit players physically. However, he stressed the need to adapt to a faster pace of play, adding that younger players might thrive in such conditions, making it “very tricky” for experienced campaigners.

Prannoy’s remarks come shortly after India secured a bronze medal at the Thomas Cup 2026, marking only their second podium finish in the tournament’s history. While the achievement highlighted the strength of India’s core group, it also exposed concerns around bench depth following a one-sided semifinal loss to France.

Offering a doubles specialist’s perspective, Chirag Shetty elaborated on how the proposed scoring tweak could reshape match dynamics, particularly in terms of tempo and recovery time between rallies. Drawing from past discussions within the badminton circuit, he recalled that even shorter formats had previously been resisted by players.

“Definitely, I think 6 years back…we all, as players, collectively didn't want that to happen because it would have completely changed the way batting would be played,” he said, referring to earlier proposals.

Expanding on that, Chirag explained that while the 15-point system is closer to the current structure than the previously discussed alternatives, it would still significantly alter the rhythm of the sport.

“I think 6 years back, 6 or 7 years back, when it was first introduced, I think they were planning to change it to 11.5 games. I think that's a time when we all, as players, collectively didn't want that to happen because it would have completely changed the way badminton would be played. After all, I have played the 11.5 games tournaments, and I think they were really, really quick, and you barely had time to regroup yourself because by the time you are actually ready, I think two games are already gone, you're already two games down, so I think it could have completely changed the sport but 15 is sort of still similar to what 21 is. Yes, 21 did test your endurance and your power,” he said.

He further highlighted that the new system could favour explosive players who rely on speed and attacking play, rather than those who build their game over longer rallies.

“It was a very complete format, but I think 15 now will become purely based on speed and power. I think ones who are really hard smashers and are quick, they can actually sustain until the very end, whereas in 21, you couldn't do that for three games at a stretch, and for five rounds if you play until the finals, but now I think playing 15 points, your body would be able to take it so the amount of rallies sort of might become short.

“Players will be starting from the word go, and they will want to start on a good note because in 21, even if you didn't start that well, you would eventually catch up, but in 15 points, you don't really have as much time, so the matches will definitely become shorter and will become faster. I don't know if it will be exciting, but I think we will get to know in a couple of months, but it will definitely become a lot faster and quicker,” the Thomas Cup bronze medallist added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen has provided a detailed account of the elbow injury he sustained during the Thomas Cup Finals, revealing that high adrenaline levels during his quarterfinal clash against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen initially masked the severity of the damage.

The Paris Olympic bronze medallist faces a race against time to be fit for the upcoming Thailand Open, scheduled for May 12-17, after sustaining an elbow injury during the prestigious team championships.

The young shuttler, who played a pivotal role in India clinching a historic bronze medal, revealed on Tuesday that his participation in next week's tournament hinges on the results of recent medical scans.

"I just came back last night, and I did some scans in the morning as well. I'll now go to the doctor and then have a word with him and then decide on how to go about the tournament," Lakshya Sen replied to IANS' query during a press conference facilitated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The injury was sustained during his hard-fought Thomas Cup quarterfinal match. Despite the physical setback, Lakshya continued to compete, contributing to the team’s podium finish. However, the World No. 9 is now taking a cautious approach to his immediate playing schedule. "I'm supposed to play the Thailand Open next week, but again, I'm still waiting for the confirmation from the doctor, as I've taken the MRI scans now. So just waiting for his opinion on that, and then we'll get a clearer idea of the tournament," he added.

Providing a detailed account of the injury, he revealed that high adrenaline levels during the match initially masked the severity of the damage. "The injury happened in the first set of the match against Chou Tien-chen. I couldn't realise it at that time. It hurt for the next 2-3 points when I dived. But after that, I completely forgot, and the adrenaline was so high that I couldn't focus on that," he said.

The World No. 9 added that while his coach noticed his elbow during the match, he chose not to intervene to keep his focus intact. "Immediately after the match, when I went back, I saw my elbow was swollen. The coach told me that he saw the elbow in the match, but he didn't tell me that it's looking pretty bad because I was not complaining about it then," he added.

Lakshya described a deteriorating situation involving swelling and redness, which prompted immediate consultations with the medical team. "Once I came back, and when the body cooled down a bit, it started hurting a little bit. There was some redness around the swelling as well. It didn't look very good to me and also the physios," he said.

Following a consultation, doctors warned Lakshya that playing further could lead to long-term damage. "They said it is looking quite bad, and I don't think you will be able to play your 100 per cent. Maybe if you still want to play, you will be around 60-70 per cent. But there are chances that it can get worse because we don't know what has happened inside right now, because the swelling is too much," Lakshya added.

Lakshya's absence in the semifinal proved a significant blow to India’s chances as the 2022 champions returned home with a bronze medal. While Lakshya expressed his desire to continue competing for the national side, he eventually sat out subsequent matches following a collective decision with the medical staff.

"With the physios and the doctor, it was a collective decision. I tried until the very end to try and play the match, but it was not possible," he concluded.

Source: IANS

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