NEW DELHI: India's badminton team, which had consistently secured medals in the past three Olympics, faced a disappointing outcome at the Paris 2024 Games.
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.
1/9:Paris Olympics: Indian athletes who finished just shy of the podium
PTI
2/9:Manu Bhaker
<p>The Paris 2024 Olympics concluded with India experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. While the nation had high hopes for a successful campaign, several athletes narrowly missed out on securing a spot on the podium.<br /><br /><br /></p>PTI
3/9:Arjun Babuta
Arjun Babuta came close to securing a medal in the men's 10m air pistol event but fell short by a narrow margin. Despite his best efforts, Babuta couldn't quite reach the podium, finishing just outside the medal positions in a highly competitive field.PTI
4/9:Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat
Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat delivered India's best Olympic performance in mixed team archery, finishing fourth. They narrowly missed out on a historic medal, losing 6-2 to the American duo of Brady Ellison and Casey Kaufhold in the bronze match.AFP
5/9:Mirabhai Chanu
Mirabai Chanu, who secured a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, faced disappointment in the women's 49kg weightlifting event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her fourth-place finish added to India's series of close calls and missed opportunities in the competition.AFP
6/9:Anant Jeet Singh and Maheshwari Chauhan
Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Maheshwari Chauhan, the Indian representatives in the mixed skeet competition, faced a heartbreaking loss to their rivals from China. The intense battle for the bronze medal concluded with the slimmest of margins, as the Chinese team edged out the Indian duo by a single point.PTI
7/9:Lakshya Sen
<p><br /><br />In the battle for the bronze medal, Sen faced off against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia. However, the young Indian talent was unable to secure a spot on the podium, as he succumbed to a loss against his Malaysian opponent.</p>PTI
8/9:Lakshya Sen and Viktor Axelsen
Lakshya Sen etched his name in the annals of Indian badminton by becoming the first male shuttler from the country to advance to the Olympic semifinals. Sen's journey came to an end in the penultimate round, where he was defeated by the reigning champion, Viktor Axelsen.PTI
9/9:Manu Bhaker
Manu Bhaker made history by securing two bronze medals in a single Olympics, becoming the first from India to achieve such a feat. However, her quest for a third medal fell short as she narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the women's 25m air pistol event.PTIDespite 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.
