Ritupurna hints at star potential despite losing to Sindhu in national finals
Rituparna joined the Gopichand Badminton Academy a year later but within a few years doubts were raised about her ability to make it big on the international stage.
2014 should see Saina Nehwal back to her best
Unlike 2013, Saina has a definite target of defending her Commonwealth crown and also win a medal in the Asian Games.
It is time for Indian sports to have its own AAP movement
Just like a good player doesn't automatically become a good coach, there is no guarantee that sports administration will improve by putting a sportsperson at the helm.
Meet India's newest chess star Aravind Chithambaram
The performance was all the more special because Aravindh, with an ELO rating of 2335, came up with a performance equivalent to 2728 rating points and defeated four GMs and two IMs on his way to the title.
Should Indian sportspersons keep asking the Govt for help?
The likes of Gowda and many others are in a way professionals, who earn prize money and sponsorship from private companies as sportspersons up and above the government funding they receive.
BAI only embarrasses itself with proposed life ban for Gutta
What is most disconcerting for a genuine badminton lover is the fact that when Indian badminton is on the rise and the BAI should have utilised this period to consolidate the gains from a successful IBL, they are busy settling petty rivalries and mollycoddling egos.
IBL 2013: The highs and lows of the league stage
Firstpost takes a look at some of the highlights of the league stage.
IBL 2013: Organiser's flip-flop leads to Delhi Smashers protest
One does not wish to be critical of the IBL organisers given that this is the first year of the tournament and there would be teething troubles, their failure to provide written guidelines regarding the auction process and replacements to the teams is inexplicable.
In today's IBL clash, Saina has more to lose than Sindhu
The proposed match up on India’s Independence Day is all the more special because this would be the first time that the country’s two biggest women’s singles stars would face each other in a competitive game.
Celebrate Sindhu's World Championship bronze and then let her be
Today, let us just celebrate the achievement of Sindhu and wish her all the best for the future.
World Championships: This is one loss Saina won't forget easily
Even Saina would admit that there won’t be any easier opportunities to stand on that podium than the one presented to her this time around.
Why PV Sindhu is India's new hope for ending Chinese domination
If there were any doubt in their mind about the potential of the lanky Hyderabadi, all those would have been cleared with the way the Asian Junior champion packed off defending world champion Wang Yihan in her own backyard on Thursday.
This is Saina’s best chance to end world championship medal drought
The Asian junior champion has been out of action since the Sudirman Cup in May and would have to overcome the challenge of defending champion Yihan Wang in the third round to entertain any hope of finishing on the podium in her maiden appearance in the championship.
Doubles chaos: Why Jwala, Ponnappa remain outsiders in Indian badminton
While most of these franchises were willing to break the bank to sign the top singles players, it seems very few gave too much thought to their doubles combinations.
IBL aside, Gavaskar and badminton go back a long way
There is an argument by some that the focus should solely be on the badminton stars, but that's taking a very myopic view.
Why postponing the IBL players' auction was the most logical decision
The players' auction for the inaugural edition of the $1 million prize money tournament to be played from August 14-31 was to be held on July 19 at New Delhi. But barely 48 hours before the auction day were the teams informed that the auction will now be held on July 22.
Maken, Modi get it wrong. Here's the real state of Indian sports
So what is really stopping the states from having an effective sports policy that can identify and nurture talent. The answer is simple – apathy of the political class.
Badminton: Not just Kashyap, India's other men are also set for a quantum leap
The men are slowly but surely carving a place for themselves on the international stage with as many as six players cementing their place in the top-50 in the world ranking.
For Kidambi Srikanth, Gopichand's nudge was a big chance
On Sunday, the 20-year-old justified the faith shown in him by Gopichand by becoming only the second Indian men’s singles player to win a Grand Prix Gold title with a straight games upset of world number seven Boonsak Ponsana.
Gutta and Ponnappa: A sad end to a sparkling partnership
The duo was the first Indian doubles combination ever to win a Commonwealth Games gold in 2010 and then went on to bring home a World championship bronze medal after a gap of 28 years.