Top 10 Famous Badminton Players of India

In India, many people still think of badminton as just a light sport that isn’t as thrilling as other sports like cricket and football. But is that the case though? Not at all! Just one look at a competitive badminton match, and you’ll know why there are so many badminton fans in the country. In other words, a competitive badminton match can be super thrilling, fast, and furious as well. And sure, it’s a whole lot of fun to watch as a spectator. Not only that, but the popularity of this sport actually got a boost because of some international badminton players from India, like P.V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, etc. And today, we will be talking about the top 10 famous badminton players of India, so, let’s get to the list, shall we?

1. P.V. Sindhu

We all know that P.V. Sindhu is the most well-known badminton player in India, no doubt about that at all! In 2019, she made history as the first Indian player to win the Badminton World Championships, thereby advancing the sport in India to a new level. Especially as a double Olympic medalist, you know, a silver in the year 2016 and a bronze in the year 2021, she is a world-famous badminton player. Just so you know though, she is one of those people who have been able to consistently win in major competitions like the China Open and the BWF World Tour Finals making her one of the best players in the league.

2. Kidambi Srikanth

For those who don’t know yet, in 2017, Kidambi Srikanth achieved a historic milestone as he emerged as the first Indian male player ever to win four Super Series titles in a single year. And sure, his peak moment occurred in 2018 when he was conferred the title of world no. 1 in men’s singles. Remarked for his speed and tactical genius, Srikanth also grabbed the runner-up position in the 2021 BWF World Championships, confirming he is among India’s best athletes, you know?

3. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

You know, with the world record of the fastest badminton hit (565 km/h) in his name, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has contributed immensely to Indian doubles badminton, that we can say for sure. Satwik and his teammate Chirag Shetty smashed the world’s No. 1 ranking in doubles and won the 2023 Indonesia Open, which was the first BWF World Super 1000 for them, remember that? All in all, with such a high level of skill representation, this duo has brought India a lot of international success, such as the gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

4. Chirag Shetty

Chirag Shetty, who is the other half of India’s most successful doubles team with Satwik, has been kinda like the few players who have shaped the future of Indian doubles badminton. You name any major title like the Thailand Open, French Open, and gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and this pair of players has it. All in all, Chirag’s lightning reflexes and his ability to exploit the rapid exchanges of rallies have made him the engine of success of this team, you know?

5. Lakshya Sen

Lakshya Sen, only 21, has seen a very fast development process in badminton. If you don’t remember, well, he first made himself known in 2022 when he was the one who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal and later he was one of the most important players in India. Lakshya has shown that he is one of the best players on the global circuit, not just a young promising talent with a bronze medal at the World Championships 2021.

6. Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal’s name will always be remembered as the name associated with Indian badminton on the international stage, and why’s that though? Well, in 2012, she became the first Indian player to attain an Olympic medal for badminton, securing the bronze medal in London. In 2015, she was also the first Indian woman to reach the world’s no. 1 position, making history on her own. Not just that though, Saina has secured gold medals in two separate CommonWealth Games events in both 2010 and 2018.

7. Ashwini Ponnappa

Ashwini Ponnappa is one of the major players who has made a significant impact in Indian doubles badminton by advancing women’s and mixed doubles significantly. Like, in 2011, she and Jwala Gutta became the first-ever women’s doubles pair to win a medal for India at the World Championships. Not just that though, she has won the Commonwealth Games gold And silver medals, and she remains the key player in the doubles scene of India, thus being a source of inspiration for many youngsters who look up to her in playing doubles sports.

8. Prannoy H. S.

Prannoy H. S. might not have the same number of trophies as his peers, but what he provides to Indian badminton, principally in team events, is kinda priceless. He played an instrumental role when India clinched its first-ever Thomas Cup title in 2022, you know? All in all, it is the tough performances he puts in at international events that have earned him respect as a critical player in the men’s singles roster of India.

9. B. Sai Praneeth

Sai Praneeth made a significant mark in the story of Indian badminton after he won a World Championships medal, the first male shuttler in 36 years to achieve this milestone by winning a bronze medal in 2019, can you even believe that? Sure, Sai Praneeth’s form has fluctuated throughout the years, but he is still doing key tournaments for India proving that he can still compete on an international level against top international talent.

10. Rohan Kapoor

Last on the list, Rohan Kapoor is the new boy of Indian badminton who has skyrocketed into fame on the mixed doubles scene. Though not as established as the veterans and some other players on this list today, Rohan’s steady rise in the rankings and promising performances in BWF surely indicate that he is going to be a big star in the badminton scene of India.

Conclusion

There you have it. These are by far the most famous Indian badminton players who are representing India’s badminton skills on an international stage. The best bit about this list is that each of these players has something unique and different about them, and that’s why they have made a huge fan base in the country.