India’s Doubles Badminton Outshines Singles
India’s badminton scene is changing fast, and doubles badminton is stealing the spotlight. For the first time, India’s three doubles pairings, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand (women’s doubles, World No. 10), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (men’s doubles, World No. 11), and Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila (mixed doubles, World No. 17), are ranked higher than the country’s top singles players, Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, both at World No. 18. This shift is exciting for Indian badminton but also raises concerns about the decline of singles. However, the rise of doubles badminton shows years of hard work, planning, and coaching efforts are finally paying off.
A Shift from Singles to Doubles Badminton
Fifteen years ago, India focused heavily on singles badminton. Players like Saina Nehwal needed to succeed to make badminton popular in the country. Because of this, doubles badminton was often ignored, and critics pointed out that India couldn’t become a strong badminton nation without success in doubles categories like men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Team events like the Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, and Sudirman Cup also suffered due to weak doubles. However, constant criticism between 2006 and 2014 pushed coach Pullela Gopichand to take doubles seriously and build a strong system for it.
The Rise of Indian Doubles Badminton
Today, India’s doubles badminton is thriving. The success of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who reached World No. 1 and won gold at the 2023 Asian Games, is a major milestone. They also played a key role in India’s historic Thomas Cup win, though singles player HS Prannoy helped seal the victory. Meanwhile, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have climbed to World No. 10 in women’s doubles, and Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila are making waves in mixed doubles at World No. 17. These rankings show that India’s doubles badminton is no longer a one-time success but part of a growing system.
HISTORY BY SATWIK & CHIRAG. 🫡
– They become the first Indian doubles pair to qualify into the Quarter Final of Badminton in the Olympics. pic.twitter.com/BBLJMBnjV2
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 29, 2024
Building a Doubles Badminton System
Creating successful doubles pairings is not easy. Coaches often have to reshuffle partners to find the best combinations, which can be tough for players. Pullela Gopichand and his team, including Indian and foreign coaches, have worked hard to convince young players to focus on doubles badminton. For example, Gopichand persuaded Satwiksairaj Rankireddy to switch to doubles, while Chirag Shetty was already committed. He also guided Kidambi Srikanth to stick to singles, showing his ability to make smart decisions about players’ strengths.
Indian coaches like Vijaydeep Singh and Arun Vishnu have been key in supporting young doubles players. Vijaydeep helped players like Dhruv Kapila adjust to training in Hyderabad, while Arun Vishnu coached Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand to success. Additionally, coaches like Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri have helped Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila reach the Top 20 in mixed doubles. Foreign coach Tan Kim Her is also back, working with Satwik and Chirag while training younger doubles players.
Challenges and Future of Doubles Badminton
While doubles badminton is doing well, singles badminton is struggling. Except for Lakshya Sen’s Olympic semifinal, India’s singles players have not performed strongly recently. This is worrying because India has had Top 10 singles players since 2009. On the other hand, doubles badminton is benefiting from years of quiet hard work. Training starts early at 5 a.m., with intense drills, fitness monitoring, and technical corrections. Coaches focus on creating a unique Indian doubles style that uses smart strategies, varied strokes, and precise placement, rather than just speed or power.
However, challenges remain. Injuries are a concern for both singles and doubles players. Top doubles pairs like Satwik-Chirag, Treesa-Gayatri, and Tanisha-Dhruv need to win big titles to prove their success. The next group of doubles players must also step up to keep the momentum going. For now, India’s doubles badminton is in a strong position, giving fans hope even as singles faces difficulties.
