Even though badminton has connections with ancient India, the sport didn’t gain a lot of prominence in the early years. But the picture has been quite different now, with the sport witnessing revolutionary growth in the last decade or so.

The reason? The rise of some excellent shuttlers who glorified India’s name on the international stage.

We have seen these players shine in the Olympics or the renowned BWF events, showcasing their hunger for dominating in badminton. Thanks to their determination, these players have become household names in India, driving enormous growth of badminton in the country.

This article will glance at the five best Indian badminton players of all time.

Prakash Padukone

Prakash Padukone was the first breakout star shuttler to emerge from India. He was among the best badminton players during his days in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Padukone was an elegant shuttler on the court. His father, Ramesh, introduced him to the racket sport when there was not much interest in badminton.

He made quick strides and started making waves at the junior level before gaining attention in senior championships in 1972. Six years later, Padukone tasted his major success by clinching the Commonwealth Games men’s singles gold medal in 1978.

In 1980, he added a new feather to his cap by winning the All England Open, becoming the first shuttler from India to win the tournament. Padukone hung up his boots in 1991 and, a few years later, opened his academy in Bengaluru to shape up the future generation of shuttlers.

Pullela Gopichand

After Padukone, India got their next badminton superstar in Pullela Gopichand. After getting mentored by Padukone, he set out to replicate the success of his master.

The Andhra shuttler burst on the scene by winning his first national championship in 1996. He retained the champion tag for five consecutive years thereafter.

Gopichand’s consistent performances bore the fruit of success in 1998 when he clinched silver (men’s team) and bronze (men’s singles) in the Commonwealth Games. Three years later, he went on to add the All England Open title to his cabinet, becoming only the second Indian after Padukone to win the championship.

Constant knee injuries and surgeries cut short his career, but he gave his all to emerge as a top shuttler from India. He now runs Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad since 2004.

Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal fulfilled her mother’s dream by emerging as the finest badminton player from India. She gained prominence following her podium finish in the 2012 Olympics, becoming the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal.

That historic moment brought much-needed attention to badminton, with her becoming the face of the sport in the country. But before that, Nehwal started making progress at the junior level, winning the World Junior Championship in 2008.

The same year, she made her maiden appearance at the Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals before bowing out of the event. The Haryana shuttler then started winning major tournaments before her memorable moment came in 2012. Nehwal won the bronze in London, marking the start of the badminton revolution back home.

Three years later, she went on to occupy the No. 1 spot, becoming the first shuttler from India to reach the pole position in the sport’s history. Nehwal added a Commonwealth Games gold in 2018 before injuries and illness curtailed her successful run.

PV Sindhu

As Nehwal was at the top, PV Sindhu was coming through the ranks, showcasing her excellent performances. Since the baton has passed from Nehwal to Sindhu, the tall shuttler has been keeping the Indian badminton flag flying high in major tournaments.

She made her mark by winning consecutive bronze medals in World Championships in 2013 and 2014. Sindhu then qualified for the 2016 Olympics and scripted history in Rio by clinching the silver medal. She returned to the Olympics four years later and added a bronze to her name in Tokyo.

In between, Sindhu won silver at the World Championships in 2017 and Commonwealth Games in 2018. The next year, she became the world champion after winning the World Championships.

The Hyderabad shuttler is still going strong, with a lot of badminton left in her. She will look to add more feathers to her cap.

Srikanth Kidambi

Only the second Indian badminton player to reach the No. 1 ranking, Srikanth Kidambi, is one of the best shuttlers in the country. He is perhaps less talked about in the badminton circuit, but his talent is second to none.

Srikanth is the product of the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, where he honed his skills before announcing himself on the grand stage. He began with a stunning win in the 2014 China Open, claiming his first Super Series title.

Srikanth then qualified for the 2016 Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals. That performance though paved the way for a remarkable 2017 where he clinched four Super Series titles.

A year later, Srikanth went on to sit at the top of the rankings after adding gold (mixed team) and silver (singles) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But a string of injuries put a break to his form before he returned with success in 2021 and 2022.

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