Shivani Naik column

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SHIVANI NAIK COLUMN NEWS

Why China's National Games loom large always, on international badminton

November 09, 2025 8:59 am

For some like Chen Yufei who failed to qualify for the World Tour Finals, despite six Tour titles this season, these National Games are the week to 'peak' for, representing Zhejiang province alongside men's doubles star Wang Chang.

Koki Watanabe bounces around the court and has a whiplash kill. (Instagam/Japan Society)

Curious case of Koki Watanabe, the shortest badminton player in men's Top 100, a challenger with tall dreams

October 26, 2025 8:22 am

Like Akane Yamaguchi, Koki has stellar footwork and court coverage. His defense is Japanese - thorough, fuss-free, quick and worthy of reel extracts. He bounces around the court and has a whiplash kill.

Missing out on the gold at Rio might well have pushed PV Sindhu to become a stronger athlete in the following years. (Reuters)

Not winning early forces players to get better – just ask PV Sindhu

September 28, 2025 7:22 am

Missing out on the Rio gold may have made Sindhu more determined, and the result was her great consistency and one of the most dominant World Championship triumphs.

How PV Sindhu can break out her funk and sparkle again with tactical help from coach Irwansyah

August 24, 2025 8:59 am

If the coach can convince her to take bolder risks, get aggressive on her defensive patterns, think out of box, Sindhu can yet again strut around the badminton world

Shi Yuqi is not ideal to face in the first round, but when dreaming of a World Championship medal, isn't having to beat big names inevitable? (Badminton Photo)

Lakshya Sen needs to hit the right lengths against Shi Yuqi in blockbuster opener

August 25, 2025 4:40 pm

The Indians tend to start well these days, and should back themselves against the Chinese first up.

The last three months have witnessed a steep rise in prices of shuttlecocks, and academies all over India are having to factor in this escalation in their running costs. (Reuters)

It's time India scales up production to tide over shuttlecock scarcity arising from change in Chinese food preferences

August 10, 2025 5:34 pm

Kerala and Bengal have set-ups for shuttlecock production; they now need to improve quality and increase capacity as higher prices and uncertain supply is hitting players and academies hard.

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, the Minions, ruled the ranking charts as World No 1s for a mighty 272 weeks. (Reuters)

The Mighty Minions who ruled badminton doubles

July 20, 2025 9:14 am

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, popularly known as minions, ruled the ranking charts as world No. 1s for 272 weeks, winning close to 30 titles.

The tenacity is off the charts, and no top-10 player, much less top-25, likes to come up against Chou Tien Chen. (BWF/Badminton Photo)

Cancer survivor, migrant rights advocate and crowd favourite: Badminton’s gentle giant Chou Tien Chen

June 15, 2025 8:58 am

For Chou Tien Chen himself, the story always restarts, the page turns, after every loss. Especially after defeats.

Ayush Shetty's hunger for taking on bigger names is high, and he looks built to take on the world. (BWF/Badminton Photo File)

Travails of the tall badminton player: All that's on 6-foot-4 Ayush Shetty's to-do list

May 11, 2025 1:59 pm

Mangalore shuttler Ayush Shetty's hunger for taking on bigger names is high, and he looks built to take on the world, but being tall doesn't automatically translate into success without solid foundations of fitness.

Elected president of the BWF this week at age 60, Leeswadtrakul is only the second woman to rise high in that hierarchy., (BWF)

After transforming Thai badminton, new BWF chief Leeswadtrakul’s task will be to unlock the sport’s global potential

April 27, 2025 8:51 am

Leeswadtrakul might want to consider getting properly ambitious in seeking out global sponsors, cleaving open American markets, and prodding Asian big businesses to prop up the Asian sport to tennis levels.