Indian badminton has had a mixed year, circa 2025 has surely been a rollercoaster for the Indian shuttlers and the inconsistency continues to be a grey area. There were glimpses of brilliance, moments of reassurance but also an underlying problem that the sport is still searching for its next surge in the international circuit — one that has failed to be dominated by Indian shuttlers this year.
To begin with, the women’s doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly have offered a lot of clarity. After a dip from their career best world No.9 ranking following injuries, they have been able to make a steady comeback into competitions. Currently ranked 20th, the duo defended their title at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow. They showed composure and tactical discipline to close out a final that stretched 76 minutes. The win also made them the first Indian doubles team to win a BWF World Tour Title in the year, a stat that also reflects India’s struggles in badminton this season.
Star duo of Stawiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have also made a comeback after months of injury lay-off and personal hardships. They have continued reaching latter stages of international competitions and have been able to stay competitive against elite opponents. They made a splashing comeback at the BWF World Championships with a second bronze medal win. They also reached the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Finals after beating arch-rivals Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik but ultimately lost out against China’s C.Wang-W.K. Liang.
In the men’s singles category, Lakshya Sen had his fair share of highs and lows. While he won the Super 500 Australia Open, he has been going through a tough time since the Paris Olympics heartbreak. Meanwhile, in women’s singles, PV Sindhu has not been able to spark a strong revival, she has been balancing form and fitness, but has been unable to firmly place herself as one of the top contenders in the international circuit.
Apart from the elite, domestic tournaments like the Senior Nationals showcased promising talents like Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma but none of them have been able to knock the door down yet.
Badminton always has a punishing international calendar but Indian badminton has been enduring. While there have been some showstopping moments, India’s resurgence in badminton is yet to arrive.
