Badminton News

The Delhi HC on Thursday asked the Badminton Association of India to allow ace doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta to participate in tournaments till the disciplinary committee takes a final decision against her alleged indiscipline. Jwala, a World Championship bronze-medallist, had moved the court challenging the life ban imposed on her, calling it unfair as she wasn't given a hearing.

Petroleum minister Veerappa Moily asked sports minister Jitendra Singh to treat Jwala Gutta, a Bharat Petroleum employee, fairly otherwise the petroleum sector would stop financial support to Badminton Association of India. BAI recommended a life ban on Gutta, which has been stayed by Delhi HC, for expressing "disappointment" over reduction of base price for shuttlers at the Indian Badminton League.

In the latest BWF ranking released on Thursday, Saina Nehwal, with 62,010 points, slipped one spot to seventh position, owing to second round defeat at French Open last week. Also, PV Sindhu regained her 10th position with 52,352 points, while Parupalli Kashyap slipped to 12th position. RMV Gurusaidutt (19th), Ajay Jayaram(26th) and Srikanth(27th) were other well-placed Indians in the rankings.

Indian shuttlers faced a gloomy day at the China Open Super Series Premier on Thursday, as Saina Nehwal lost 21-16, 15-21, 17-21 to unseeded Sun Yu(China) and Arundhati Pantawane was defeated 13-21, 10-21 by third seed Wang Yihan(China) in the women's singles. Moreover, Parupalli Kashyap was also defeated 11-21, 12-21 by Kento Momota of Japan in the men's singles competition.

World No. 11 and Indian top seed PV Sindhu (18) cruised into the women's singles final of the $120,000 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold on Saturday, defeating a much lower ranked Qin Jinjing of China 21-13, 18-21, 21-19. Sindhu will take on World No. 30 and seventh seed Li Michelle of Canada in the title clash on Sunday.

Beating World No. 30 Li Michelle of Canada 21-15, 21-12, the World No. 11 and Indian top seed PV Sindhu clinched her second international title of the year by winning the final of Macau Open Grand Prix Gold on Sunday. Sindhu won the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold this May before clinching the bronze at the World Championships in August.

India's top doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta is planning to open a badminton academy in Hyderabad. She is known to be unhappy with the way the sport is run in the country, by the 'Badminton Association of India'. "I am in talks with the government and have already sent my proposal. Let us see how things turn out," Jwala said.

Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram Saturday defeated English top seed Rajiv Ouseph 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 in straight games, to enter the men's singles final of the $50k Dutch Open Grand Prix in Netherlands. In the final match, Jayaram, who returned to the game after seven-month injury layoff in August, will take on Indonesia's Ihsan Maulana Mustofa.

Indian Shuttler Ajay Jayaram clinched $50k Dutch Open Grand Prix at Almere in Netherlands on Sunday, becoming the first Indian to win badminton Grand Prix tournament under a new scoring system. Jayaram defeated Indonesia's Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 10-11, 11-6, 11-7, 1-11, 11-9 in an exciting final clash. The 27-year-old returned to the circuit in August after a seven-month injury layoff.

Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu Wednesday marched into the second round of the women's singles event of the Denmark Open Super Series Premier. Saina was made to work hard for her 12-21, 21-10, 21-12 win over Germany's Karin Schnaase. Sindhu registered a 21-12, 22-20 victory over Hong Kong's Pui Yin Yip at the Odense Sports Park.

Indian shutters Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth were knocked out in their respective quarter-finals of the Denmark Open Super Series. Saina lost to World No.2 Shixian Wang of China 20-22, 15-21; while Sindhu went down 23-25, 20-22 to South Korea's Sung Ji Hyun. Also, Kidambi Srikanth lost to South Korean Wan Ho Son 23-21, 21-17 in men’s quarterfinals.

Indian campaign in the Denmark Open badminton tournament ended after shuttler Parupalli Kashyap lost to Chen Long of China 16-21, 15-21 in 45 minutes in semi-finals. However, it was a close encounter between Kashyap and the 2nd seeded Chinese till 13-14 in the first match and 9-all in second match. Although, reaching the semi-final will certainly boost Kashyap's rankings.