By Badminton is a sport played by millions of people in India and worldwide. It might come as a surprise but badminton traces its origin from the city of Pune, India. In the last few decades, there have been many famous badminton players from India and the country has produced some of the best badminton players ever. Indian badminton players have made their country proud on several occasions. Be it the Olympics, commonwealth or other international tournaments, Indian players have been in the top 3 of every tournament there is in the sport of badminton. Today we will take a look at the most famous badminton players of India. So lay back and enjoy.
Famous Indian Badminton Players
To start this list we would like to say that this list is not ranked in any particular order and each one of the players we are about to mention is a superstar in their own right.
1. P.V. Sindhu
It only seems right to start this list with the only badminton player from India to win a silver medal in the Olympics. P.V. Sindhu is one of the most famous badminton players of India. After winning the Junior Asian Championship in 2012 at the age of 16 and securing a bronze medal in the World Championships in 2014, a 20-year-old Sindhu qualified for the Rio Olympics 2016 and bagged a silver medal after losing to then world no.1, Carolina Marin.
2. Prakash Padukone
A true pioneer of Indian badminton, Prakash Padukone is probably the most important personality in Indian badminton. He started his career in the early 70’s and quickly started racking up wins against the best players in the country. Padukone created history when he won the gold medal in the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Padukone topped that win by clinching the most prestigious badminton championship in the world, the All England Open Crown Championships. He also established one of the best badminton academies in India and the very first formal training academy for badminton, Prakash Padukone Centre of Excellence. Undoubtedly, he is one of the most celebrated and famous badminton players of India.
3. Pullela Gopichand
Pullela Gopichand is the legend of the game and one of the worldwide famous badminton players in India who has made the country proud on several occasions. A disciple of Prakash Padukone, Gopichand got into the limelight after winning 4 national titles in a row. He was also a steady performer in international matches where he bagged a silver medal in the 1998 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in the 2000 Asian Games. The defining moment in Gopichand’s career came in 2001 when he became the 2nd Indian ever to win the All England Open Crown championship where he defeated then-world No.1 Peter Gade in the semi-finals.
4. Saina Nehwal
The talk of famous badminton players of India is incomplete without discussing Saina Nehwal, who was monumental in the future success of Indian badminton players. In the 2012 London Olympics, at the age of 22, Saina Nehwal became the only Indian badminton player to ever win an Olympic medal. She was also the first Indian ever to win BWF super title 2 years in a row. Then in 2010, she bagged a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi. Nehwal was also the first Indian to be ranked No.1 in the women’s singles player ranking in the world. Saina is arguably the best badminton player in the history of Indian Badminton, considering all her achievements.
5. Lakshya Sen
Another disciple of the Prakash Padukone Centre of Excellence, Lakshya Sen, is one of the most famous badminton players of India. He is the new surgeon talent in badminton. At age 22, Lakshya has achieved quite a few accolades. He is the 2022 Commonwealth Games winner and has also won the Thomas Cup which is often referred to as the world men’s team championship. Lakshya is heralded as the next world no. 1 badminton player by many experts and he currently sits at No. 7 in the list of best badminton players in the world.
Final Thoughts
These are the most famous badminton players of India. Each one of them has made a significant contribution to badminton and has made their country proud on several occasions. With their accolades, they’ve inspired numerous people to never give up and chase their dreams until they fulfil them.
FAQs
What is the current rank of the Indian badminton team?
The Indian badminton team is currently ranked at No. 5 in the world. Their most significant achievement so far has been their win in the 2022 Thomas Cup Championships where they beat the strongest team of the tournament, Indonesia by 3-0.
Where was the game of badminton originated?
The modern version of badminton traces its roots to the Indian city of Pune during the British Raj. The first set of rules for the game of Badminton were written down in Pune.
Who is the best badminton player in Indian history?
Many people consider Saina Nehwal as the best badminton player in the history of India as she was the first badminton player to win an Olympic bronze and the first Indian to win BWF super titles.
Which was the first Formal badminton academy in India?
Prakash Padukone Centre Of Excellence was the first ever formal badminton academy in India. It was founded by Prakash Padukone in 1994.
