Badminton in 2024 – Recap
Badminton in 2024 witnessed significant ups and downs, from retirements to historic victories and calls for reform. Below is a comprehensive recap of the year’s highlights.
Key Developments
Major News
- Badminton Exclusion from 2026 CWG: The sport’s removal from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow stirred controversy, especially in India, which has a strong track record with 31 medals in CWG badminton.
January
- Tai Tzu Ying’s Victory: The legendary Tai Tzu Ying kicked off her final season by winning the India Open.
- Revival Plans for PBL: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) hinted at reviving the Premier Badminton League by late 2024 or early 2025.
- Satwik-Chirag’s Rise: The Indian men’s doubles pair reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking after runner-up finishes in the Malaysia Open and India Open.
February
- Historic Gold for Indian Women: Led by young talent Anmol Kharb, India clinched gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, defeating Thailand.
- Lee Chong Wei’s Warning: The former Malaysian shuttler urged reforms after Malaysia’s disappointing Asia Team Championship results.
- Para World Success: Indian shuttlers won 18 medals, including three world championships.
March
- Sai Praneeth Retires: The 2019 World Championship bronze medalist retired from international badminton.
- Satwik-Chirag’s French Open Win: They secured their second French Open title.
- All-England Open Highlights: Jonatan Christie and Carolina Marin claimed their first and second titles, respectively.
April
- Kento Momota Retires: The two-time world champion retired from international play but will continue domestically in Japan.
- India to Host World Junior Championships: The 2025 event will be held in Guwahati, marking India’s second time hosting since 2008.
May
- China’s Domination: China secured both the Thomas and Uber Cups.
- Satwik-Chirag Triumphs Again: They clinched the Thailand Open title.
- Indian Women’s Doubles Upset: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated the then World No. 2 duo.
June
- Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen Dominates: The reigning Olympic champion won the Indonesia Open, solidifying his status as the world’s top men’s singles player.
- PV Sindhu’s Struggles Continue: India’s PV Sindhu faced early exits in multiple tournaments, sparking discussions about her form and fitness.
July
- Asian Games Preparations Begin: Countries started assembling their strongest squads for the Asian Games scheduled in September, with intense training camps across India, China, and Japan.
- India’s Mixed Doubles Medal: Ashwini Ponnappa and Dhruv Kapila earned a bronze medal at the Korea Open, marking a rare feat in mixed doubles for India.
August
- Lakshya Sen Shines: Lakshya Sen claimed his first Super 500 title of the year at the Singapore Open, defeating Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in a thrilling final.
- BWF Introduces New Rules: The Badminton World Federation announced rule changes for faster gameplay, including adjustments to service height and on-court coaching protocols.
September
- Asian Games Drama: India experienced mixed results at the Asian Games. While Satwik-Chirag bagged gold in men’s doubles, PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen narrowly missed podium finishes.
- Controversy in Coaching: The Indian badminton camp faced backlash after accusations of favoritism in team selection for the Asian Games.
October
- China Dominates Home Ground: Chinese shuttlers swept all titles at the China Open, reaffirming their dominance in the sport.
- Indian Para-Athletes Shine: Manasi Joshi and Krishna Nagar secured gold at the Para Asian Games, adding to India’s growing para-sports achievements.
November
- Retirements and Farewells: Indonesia’s Greysia Polii announced her retirement, bidding an emotional farewell during the Indonesian Masters.
- Premier Badminton League Revival: The Premier Badminton League officially resumed after a three-year hiatus, with new franchise teams and international players.
December
- Year-End Rankings: Satwik-Chirag finished as World No. 2 in men’s doubles, while HS Prannoy broke into the top five in men’s singles.
- World Tour Finals: Viktor Axelsen and Akane Yamaguchi triumphed at the World Tour Finals, ending the year on a high note.
- PV Sindhu Wins Syed Modi Championship: In a stunning comeback, PV Sindhu defeated Unnati Hooda to clinch the title, closing the year with a much-needed victory.
Looking Ahead
As the badminton world gears up for 2025, several narratives are set to unfold:
- Will badminton be reinstated in the Commonwealth Games after 2026?
- Can Indian shuttlers maintain their upward trajectory and reclaim global dominance?
- How will the new BWF rules impact the sport’s dynamics?
With renewed hope and determination, the sport is poised for an exciting year ahead, building on the lessons and achievements of 2024.