Shivani Naik column

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Satwik even made Chirag Shetty - who compulsively Googles every new thing, and doubly, triply checks the smallest details - buy into his hypnotic idea, as they disrupted global badminton by becoming the first Indian No 1s in doubles, while coming from a country with no pedigree in doubles. (AP Photo)

Satwik in Wonderland: The optimism that powers India’s greatest doubles pair

May 10, 2026 8:43 am

Loss at the Paris Olympics and injuries that strike tall people with more venom, can make the most free-spirited athletes mighty circumspect. Satwik also lost his father to a cardiac arrest while his parents were en route to Delhi in a car to witness him and Chirag Shetty duo receive the Khel Ratna. But the vile trolling never stopped.

Former Indian shuttler Pullela Gopichand in action. (FILE)

Are sub-par fitness levels holding new Indians back? Pullela Gopichand's All England throwback offers pointers

March 22, 2026 8:48 am

New young Indian shuttlers coming onto the international circuit, seem well-versed in the nuances of shot-making and racquet-skills, but can quickly fall out of the reckoning, if their fitness standards are not raised - considerably.

Lakshya Sen with sports psychologist Mon Brokman (R).

The mind behind Lakshya Sen's All England run

March 08, 2026 4:44 pm

Israeli sports psychologist Nimrod Mon Brokman on hypoxia drills, Paris ghosts, and why Sen laughs in the face of hard stuff.

India's crop of promising badminton juniors is a boon. (Reuters/Badminton Photo/File)

Why Indian badminton should refrain from anointing any youngster as the Saina-Sindhu successor - the heir isn't apparent

February 01, 2026 9:24 am

Marketeers and broadcasters need packaged personalities to sell; but a sport seldom bends to such tick-box scripts - so spare Tanvi, Unnati, Anmol, Rakshitha, Devika the premature trumpets and hype.

Saina wasn’t the quickest on her feet, nor was she exceptionally tall. But until her knees gave out, her work rate was ferocious. (Reuters Photo)

Saina Nehwal: The relentless force who redefined Indian badminton

January 25, 2026 9:15 am

Before PV Sindhu, before social media debates, before winning became rare—there was Saina. Relentless, fearless, and ferociously determined, she made victory look inevitable

Ayush Shetty (on left with Viktor Axelsen) and Sathish Karunakaran are among the names to look for next season in Indian badminton.

The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here

December 14, 2025 9:40 am

The names to look for next season are the men with power and physicality: Ayush Shetty, Sathish Karunakaran, Tharun Mannepalli, Sanskar Saraswat and Rounak Chouhan

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