India’s badminton performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a mixed bag of promise and disappointment. While Lakshya Sen’s fourth-place finish brought a glimmer of hope, the early exits of other prominent players cast a shadow over the overall campaign.
This was the first time in three Olympic editions that India failed to secure a badminton medal. The most shocking upset came in the men’s doubles, where the third-seeded pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, considered medal contenders, were surprisingly eliminated in the quarterfinals by the unseeded Malaysian duo of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
P.V. Sindhu, a former Olympic medalist, also faced an early exit, losing in the pre-quarterfinals to eventual finalist He Bing Jiao of China. Despite her previous successes, Sindhu’s form has been inconsistent since recovering from a stress fracture, and this defeat further highlighted her struggles.
While the women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto failed to make an impact, Lakshya Sen’s journey to the semifinals offered a beacon of hope. He started his campaign with a convincing victory over Kevin Cordon of Guatemala before defeating Julien Carraggi of Belgium in straight games. In the group stage, he pulled off an impressive upset against Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, showcasing his ability to handle pressure and deliver under challenging circumstances.
Sen’s quarterfinal victory against Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei, a player ranked higher than him, was a testament to his resilience and growing confidence. He eventually reached the semifinals, where he faced the reigning Olympic champion, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. Despite a strong first game, Sen ultimately fell to Axelsen’s experience and dominance.
The loss to Axelsen was disappointing, but Sen’s performance throughout the tournament was noteworthy. He displayed a mature approach and his ability to rise to the occasion against top-ranked players. However, his bronze medal hopes were dashed in the third-place playoff, where he squandered a lead and succumbed to Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia.
While Sen’s performance offered a glimpse of India’s potential in badminton, the overall results exposed weaknesses in the team’s depth and consistency. The early exits of several top players underscored the need for greater focus on developing a new generation of badminton stars.
The rise of Satwik and Chirag, along with the unpredictable displays of Lakshya, offers some promise for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. However, India’s badminton program needs to address the lack of consistency and depth in the squad if they aim to consistently compete on the international stage.
