Despite the presence of strong contenders like PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, and Chirag Shetty, the team failed to clinch a single medal, marking a significant setback after a successful run spanning over a decade.Lakshya Sen‘s fourth-place finish served as a silver lining amidst the overall disappointment. The team’s hopes were not unfounded, given Sindhu’s pursuit of a third consecutive Olympic medal, HS Prannoy‘s long-awaited debut, and the promising form displayed by Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto in women’s doubles. Lakshya and the duo of Satwik-Chirag were also considered strong contenders for podium finishes.
In preparation for the Paris cycle, badminton received substantial support, including numerous national camps and foreign exposure trips funded through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Mission Olympic Cell allocated a significant portion of the nearly Rs 470 crore budget to badminton, second only to one other discipline among the 16 supported.
However, the results in Paris did not align with the investments made, underscoring the unpredictable nature of Olympic competition and the crucial role of mental fortitude in such high-stakes events, reported PTI.
Lakshya’s performance in the semifinals against Viktor Axelsen and the bronze play-off against Lee Zii Jia of Chinese Taipei exemplified this challenge.
Sindhu, who had received substantial financial support, was unable to advance beyond the pre-quarterfinals, missing the opportunity to become the first Indian athlete to secure three Olympic medals.
The overall outcome serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in Olympic success and the need for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond mere financial investment.
“I am a little disappointed as he could not finish it. I am disappointed that we could not even win one medal in badminton. The government, SAI, and TOPS have done their bit. It is high time some of the players also need to take some responsibility,” Lakshya’s coach and former All England champion Prakash Padukone.
The shocking loss of former world number one Satwik and Chirag, who were considered strong contenders for the gold medal, added to the disappointment of the Indian badminton team at the Olympics.
The Indian government had provided substantial financial support to the players, including Rs 26.60 lakh and Rs 9.33 lakh sanctioned for Sindhu and Lakshya’s training in Germany and France, respectively.
Despite having a 12-member support team during her training in Saarbrucken, Sindhu, a previous silver and bronze medalist, was unable to overcome China’s He Bingjiao.
Satwik and Chirag, who had enjoyed a successful year with two titles in four BWF World Tour finals and numerous medals in major events, were upset by Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the quarterfinals.
The government spent a total of Rs 5.62 crores on the celebrated Indian duo for the Paris cycle,” but their loss led to the resignation of their Danish coach, Mathias Boe.
Prannoy, a bronze-medallist at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games, was hindered by Chikungunya before the Games and lost in the pre-quarterfinals, despite receiving Rs 1.8 crore for training.
Ashwini and Tanisha, who each received Rs 1.5 crore in support, were eliminated in the group stage without winning a match.
Amidst the setbacks, Lakshya’s fourth-place finish was a notable achievement for an Indian male shuttler. His victories over Jonatan Christie and Chou Tien Chen were commendable, although his losses to Axelsen and Zii Jia from advantageous positions revealed some weaknesses in his game.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Games, it is uncertain whether the 29-year-old Sindhu can maintain her fitness. However, there is hope that Satwik-Chirag and Lakshya will build upon their Paris experience.
With rising talents like Priyanshu Rajawat and Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand ready to make their mark, India’s badminton future remains promising for the next Olympic cycle.
