All posts tagged: Badminton history

Gambling capital of world where PV Sindhu took first steps on road to stardom

Gambling capital of world where PV Sindhu took first steps on road to stardom

One of only two non-Chinese to win the low-key Macau Open since it became a Grand Prix – now a Super 300 – PV Sindhu learnt early what it took to succeed at the elite level. It’s a jaw-dropping fact when one thinks of it: Sindhu had only five lower-tier Tour titles before she won the silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics – three in a hat-trick (2013-15) at what used to be the season-ender at Macau. Two others came at Malaysia, and she had her two bronze medals at World Championships and another third place at the Asian Championships, a harbinger of what was to come. But those three seasons with wins at Macau were an indication of how hard she fought even when nobody was watching. For the likes of Ashmita Chaliha and Anmol Kharb, who made the quarters at least at Macau, that is the Sindhu-development period they need to study carefully. The Macau wins had a few routines. Back then, Sindhu was in Saina Nehwal’s shadow, so when she took her …

Why All England Open winner Shi Yuqi is not the stereotypical Chinese champion | Badminton News

Why All England Open winner Shi Yuqi is not the stereotypical Chinese champion | Badminton News

Shi Yuqi is teaching China’s badminton barons to tiptoe around eggshells, and cultivate patience with athletes who might be physically or mentally weak(er). In between his two All England crowns — 2018 and 2025, Chinese sport has come a long way in learning to accommodate human fragilities — like having public meltdowns after losing, becoming Viktor Axelsen’s bunny on the Tour after repeatedly losing, and crumpling to the floor mid-match and being stretchered off due to high fever. Yuqi is prone to mental health breakdowns and to giving up because the body is crying out in pain physically. But both athlete and the badminton establishment have somehow clung on to not give up on each other. At Birmingham, Yuqi (pronounced yuchi), assured the coaches that their patience and backing was totally worth it, though China won’t ever stop looking for indestructible tall specimens who don’t come with the associated shenanigans. It’s unprecedented in Chinese men’s badminton that gets notoriously fretful over any weakness on court, and given how Lin Dan was followed by Chen Jin …