But then, as it always happens. Nothing is permanent, and India’s badminton story, too, seemed to reach a stage when an unexpected deceleration seemed to set in. Saina left the scene, and not long after, Sindhu began to lose the earlier grip in her games, and not long after, injury-related issues saw her competitive phase taking breaks. And then it all happened in the Paris Olympics in 2024, where, for the first time in four editions, India went without a medal in badminton! The biggest hope was Lakshya Sen, considered a hugely talented young man and one who had stormed into the final of the 2022 edition of the All England Open before going down to the world’s best player, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. Sen seemed to rise to the occasion in Paris when he stormed into the semifinal and, despite leading most of the way, lost to the ultimate gold medal winner Axelsen in a pulsating match.

Later in the match for the bronze medal, Sen again disappointed when a win seemed within his reach and thus brought to an end a wholly forgettable Olympic campaign for Indian badminton. Sen’s performance made many critics wonder if he lacked that aggressive streak when it mattered most. Why, even the redoubtable Prakash Padukone, Sen’s mentor, could not hold himself from expressing his regret. But then that was a phase Sen had eagerly wanted to forget at the earliest. A key link in the 2022 Thomas Cup success for India, Sen’s strength was never in doubt; only his mental make-up was for the big occasion. If anything, the Paris Olympics highlighted that in no uncertain way.

For Indian badminton, it was a transition phase from the highs of Saina and Sindhu to the hopes of flashes of brilliance from emerging stars. So, Sen has to be a key talent there, one whose every movement on the court has to increasingly come under scrutiny. True, the Satwik-Chirag pair were there to demand attention, and then there came others like Ayush Shetty, who had won the US Open Super 300 in June of last year. There was this teenage sensation, Tanvi Sharma, who finished runner-up in the world junior championship this year. Undoubtedly an exciting talent aiming to follow the footsteps of Sindhu. Besides this, there are flashes here and there for sure, but the sport needed a role model who could not just lead the young brigade but be an inspirational icon.

It is here that one looks at Sen with a new hope. Particularly after his recent success in the Australian Open, a BWF Super 500 tournament which had come as a whiff of fresh air after the relatively low-key days for the sport in the year. For Sen himself, it was a big moment in his career. Not since the Syed Modi international Super 300 in December last year had he won a title in India, and yet he was always in the thick of action in every event he took part in. The Paris meltdown certainly put him off badly, and thereafter injuries took over to sideline him and also cause early exits. Considering all that, this Sydney success was a revelation, and hopefully, this should make him chart a new line ahead where success dominates. Coming as it did towards the fag end of the season, the success should auger well for Indian badminton just as it should for him too, for, new year 2026 is round the corner, and that should offer many more opportunities, including the Asian Games, where his aim would be for his first gold.

To prop up the scene, perhaps the happenings in the Syed Modi international tournament, where Gayathri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly lived up to their fame as a top double pair by defending the title they had won last year. Seasoned Kidambi Srikanth, a former world number one, could have added to the happiness, but as luck would have it, missed by a whisker, so to say, in recording a title win against the Hong Kong player Jason Gunawan. Still, the performances overall enhance the hopes of better times ahead. Indeed, there is much to look forward to. Aside from the Asian Games, there is the World Championship to be hosted by India next year in New Delhi. Saina may have left the scene, but can a refreshed Sindhu, inspired Lakshya and experienced Srikanth combine with the rising stars to ensure whatever dip in excellence witnessed since the Paris Olympics was just an aberration, and that badminton in India remains on firm footing? Only time will tell!