New Delhi: Indian badminton players are gearing up for a pivotal 2025, following a mixed bag of results in 2024. The season opened with the Malaysia Open and India Open, but the most anticipated events lie ahead: the BWF World Championships and the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championship.
Indian shuttlers have had a successful run on the 2024 BWF World Tour, with five titles—two in men’s doubles, one in women’s doubles, and one each in men’s and women’s singles. Despite the early-season challenges, the Indian contingent is gearing up for the upcoming tournaments, including the Asian swing, which starts with the Malaysia Open on January 7 and moves to the India Open from January 14–19.
Looking ahead, the All England Open, considered the oldest and most revered badminton event, will take place in March in Birmingham. Indian shuttlers have a rich history in this tournament, though they have secured only two wins: Prakash Padukone in 1980 and Pulle Gopichand in 2001. In recent years, stars like Saina Nehwal and Lakshya Sen have come close to winning, and the hope is high for a new champion in 2025, with PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the promising men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty leading the charge.
Despite struggles in 2024, Satwik and Chirag remain focused on the Badminton Asia Championship in April, where they aim to defend their men’s doubles title. Sindhu, too, is looking to bounce back after a challenging period, with a strong showing at the Syed Modi International in December 2024 marking her first title in nearly two years.
India’s continued success in the BWF World Championships is notable, with medals from top shuttlers like Sindhu, Srikanth, Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag, and Prannoy. The 2025 season is seen as crucial, with Indian players eyeing significant victories at the BWF World Championships and All England Open to further solidify India’s standing in the global badminton rankings.
