Vimal Kumar

The Popov brothers are among the few top singles players who also compete in doubles at a high level on the world stage. That in itself is commendable. However, badminton is very different from tennis. In tennis, two strong singles players can often come together and challenge or even beat established doubles pairs. In badminton, the skill sets for singles and doubles are quite distinct, and top-level doubles requires specialized training, coordination, and instinct built over time. The Popov brothers are undoubtedly talented, but competing against well-established doubles combinations is always a tough challenge. Also, after playing physically demanding singles matches, it becomes even more difficult to switch to the faster, more intense demands of doubles. That said, their versatility and willingness to compete across formats is impressive, and it adds great value to their team. Hope this gives a helpful perspective.

@vimalkumar_u Depends upon players, but in my opinion, single and double are diff game altogether.. separate team bring in that diff to work Vimal, We need to know your expert view on this…

France’s tie was effectively over once they lost the first singles. Top quality match—Shi Yuqi showed why he’s among the most complete players in the world. Tough to read, great variation, and deadly at key moments. Christo Popov pushed him hard—led 16–14 in the decider—but Shi raised the pace and closed it out in style. Key point: France stacked 3 singles first, using the Popov brothers who play both singles & doubles. Smart tactic—often misunderstood. Bottom line: teams like India, Japan, Indonesia had stronger doubles on paper, but couldn’t win that one crucial singles. China did. That’s the difference.

France completely overwhelmed India today, and Lakshya’s absence was certainly felt at crucial moments. That said, this result also highlights just how much France has grown as a badminton nation—they’re progressing rapidly and competing with real authority at the highest level. Looking ahead, they will carry strong belief into the final, especially if it’s against China. With the form they’re in, they have every chance of making it a closely fought contest. Christo Popov continues to be a standout performer. Winning the year-end Finals last season and delivering such dominant performances—like his exceptional display against Indonesia, where he convincingly beat Jonatan Christie—shows the level of confidence and quality he’s bringing to the court. For India, this is a moment to regroup and come back stronger. The potential in this team is unquestionable.

India faces a tough semifinal against France 🇫🇷—a true 50-50 tie. With Christo Popov, Alex Lanier & Toma Popov, France has serious singles depth. All 3 matches look evenly poised, though India may have a slight edge in doubles. Lakshya, Ayush & Kiran know what to expect—having trained with the Popovs in the lead-up to Paris. Familiarity won’t be an issue. Key: India needs 2 singles wins. If Lakshya & Ayush fire, it sets up the tie. If it’s 3 singles first, experience of Prannoy/Srikanth becomes crucial. France outplayed Japan 3-0 in singles—never allowing doubles into the contest. Line-up order will be decisive. Denmark (without Viktor Axelsen) vs China in the other SF—Antonsen in top form. Only concern: scheduling. QF, SF & Final on consecutive days is demanding and not ideal for player recovery. Big match ahead. Time to step up 🇮🇳

India’s 3–0 win over a strong Chinese Taipei side is more than just a result—it’s a statement. Lakshya Sen and the dependable pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty set the tone with authority. But special mention to 20 years old Ayush Shetty—a truly outstanding performance. Against a reigning All England champion and one of the most attacking players on the circuit, Ayush combined composure with intent, blending attack and defence beautifully to keep his opponent under constant pressure. A win to be proud of, and more importantly, one that strengthens belief for the challenges ahead.

Shock. Disbelief. A seismic moment for our sport. For the first time in the history of the Thomas Cup, Indonesia — the very heartbeat of world badminton — has failed to reach the quarterfinals. This isn’t just an upset. This is like Brazil national football team or Argentina national football team crashing out before the knockout stages of the World Cup. Unthinkable. Until now.

Comfortable win for our boys against Australia. Now it’s India vs China to decide the group topper. Shi Yuqi rested earlier—clearly lined up for the opener against Lakshya Sen. Big match coming. That’s the essence of the Thomas Cup & Uber Cup—top players, high pressure, no hiding. Women’s campaign ends with a 0–5 vs China. P. V. Sindhu let the opening singles slip from a winning position in the decider. Isha Rani had game point vs Chen Yufei—at this level, 20–19 has to be closed. Margins are brutal. Denmark tie will hurt too—Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma both had chances. Bigger concern: empty stands. For a marquee event, that’s unacceptable. Badminton World Federation must do better on venues, promotion, and fan engagement. Great matches. No audience. Bad for players, worse for the sport.

Looks like Badminton World Federation is determined to make badminton as “easy” as pickleball and padel… interesting way to promote a sport built on endurance, skill, and resilience 😄

Extremely disappointed with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) decision to alter the scoring system—and even more concerning is the overwhelming support it has received from Council members. The existing format ensured a true level playing field across playing styles, especially in the premier events—Men’s and Women’s Singles—which have always embodied the very essence of our sport: skill, resilience, fitness, and mental strength. By effectively reducing the duration (and in essence removing one game’s worth of play—18 points), BWF risks diluting what made these events so compelling. The explanation that this will “create early excitement” feels short-sighted. Badminton has never lacked excitement—what it has offered is sustained intensity, something very few sports can match. If change was necessary, why not apply it selectively to doubles formats, while preserving the integrity of Singles? That would have been a more balanced approach. Equally concerning is the continued neglect of player welfare and voice: * No prize money for the World Championships * No meaningful increase in rewards for Singles, the flagship category * No implementation of a review/referral system for critical umpiring decisions These are areas that truly needed attention. Badminton is widely regarded among the toughest sports in the world. A 90-minute Singles match can have nearly an hour of shuttle in play—far exceeding many longer-duration sports. Yet, instead of strengthening these unique aspects, decisions like this risk undermining them. Players are expected to adapt—but are rarely heard. While other global sports continue to evolve by empowering athletes, improving officiating, and enhancing viewer engagement, badminton seems to be moving in the opposite direction. It’s disheartening to see a sport followed so passionately—especially across Asia—being reshaped for reasons that do not address its real challenges. This is not evolution. This is dilution.

Tribute to Viktor Axelsen I am deeply saddened to hear about Viktor Axelsen stepping away from the sport due to persistent back issues. When I last interacted with him a month ago, he had expressed concern about his recovery and the lack of progress post-surgery—but even then, I did not imagine that he would be forced to make such a difficult decision. I first heard about Viktor nearly two decades ago from another great Dane, Morten Frost, during his visit to our academy in Bangalore. I vividly recall him speaking about a young talent he was nurturing in Aarhus, and the strong belief he had in the boy’s potential to rise to the very top of world badminton. Viktor not only lived up to that belief—he surpassed it. A two-time Olympic champion, World Champion, All England winner, and a dominant force across the global badminton circuit, Viktor has firmly established himself as one of the all-time greats of our sport. His professionalism, discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence have set benchmarks for generations to follow. His retirement is a significant loss—not just for Denmark, but for European badminton as a whole. Denmark, in particular, faces a challenging phase in men’s singles, with a visible gap emerging after Viktor and Anders Antonsen. Several of their leading players are now past their peak, making this transition even more difficult. On a personal note, I feel this is a loss for the sport itself. I sincerely hope the Badminton World Federation considers bringing Viktor into a larger role within the sport. With his global appeal—especially across Asia, including China—and his ability to connect across cultures, he would be a tremendous ambassador. More importantly, he has always demonstrated thoughtful and progressive ideas for the growth of badminton, beyond just discussions around shortening match durations. I truly hope he remains closely involved with the sport in the years to come, perhaps even contributing to its administration and future direction. Thank you, Viktor, for everything you have given to badminton. Wishing you strength, happiness, and great success in all your future endeavors.

The semifinal between Ayush Shetty and Kunlavut Vitidsarn (World No. 1) at the Asian Badminton Championships was a powerful reminder of what our sport truly stands for. It was intense, demanding, and deeply tactical—everything that makes badminton special. Ayush’s win underlined one critical truth: there are no shortcuts in our sport. Physical endurance, resilience, and mental strength are non-negotiable. Which is why I must say this clearly to the Badminton World Federation: Do not dilute badminton by altering the scoring system to shorten matches. This move risks reducing a sport built on endurance and skill into one designed merely to fit television windows. The idea of compressing five events into a three-hour broadcast slot cannot come at the cost of the sport’s essence. Badminton is not just about speed—it is about attrition, strategy, adaptability, and sustained excellence. The current scoring system allows contrasting styles—attacking and defensive—to compete on equal terms. That balance is the soul of the game. Compromising this for convenience would be a serious mistake. If you shorten the game, you don’t modernize badminton—you diminish it.

The retirement of Carolina Marín leaves a huge void in European badminton. A true champion whose rivalries with P. V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal defined an era. Still remember her at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games—in control before that unfortunate injury. Sport can be cruel. I first saw her in 2013 at the Indian Badminton League. We picked her along with a young Tai Tzu-ying—both went on to become World No.1. Also convinced there’s a “Bengaluru effect” 😄 Come here… become World No.1! Saina Nehwal, Jan Ø. Jørgensen, Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand… Time to revive the league—India needs it. Wishing Carolina the very best. The sport will miss her.

Lowering the cost of sports goods is a good beginning, but our ambition must go much further. The present meagre increase does not match India’s sporting potential. If we truly aspire to be a global sporting nation, sustained investment of ₹10,000–15,000 crore annually over the next decade is essential—and entirely achievable. It is time to move from intent to impact, and from small steps to a bold, long-term vision for Indian sport.#UnionBudget2026 @BAI_Media @Media_SAI @IndiaSports @WeAreTeamIndia

Hi everyone, Vimal Kumar here! 👋 Big news for all badminton lovers — the Yonex Sunrise BWF World Junior Badminton Championships 2025 are about to kick off in Guwahati, Assam this week! 🇮🇳🏸 It’s amazing to see how far Indian badminton has come at the junior world stage. It all started back in 1996 when Aparna Popat won our first-ever silver medal in girls’ singles. Then Saina Nehwal took it a step further with gold in 2008, inspiring an entire generation. Our boys followed suit — Prannoy, Siril Verma, and Lakshya Sen,Sankar Muthuswamy,Ayush Shetty — each adding their own chapters to this success story. All those milestones eventually led us to that unforgettable moment — India lifting the Thomas Cup in 2022! 🏆 Now it’s time to cheer for the next generation of stars! 🌟 Let’s rally behind our talented youngsters — Rounak Chauhan, Gana Duttu, Suryaksh Rawat, Unnathi Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, and many more — as they represent India with pride in Guwahati. Catch all the action from October 6th to 19th — and let’s show the world the energy of Indian badminton fans! 💪🇮🇳 #BWFWorldJuniors #TeamIndia #Badminton #IndianBadminton #FutureChampions

Flew @airindia from BLR to DEL. The cabin crew were courteous,the flight was on time,arrived before time.Check in wasn’t a great experience as many of the counters were unmanned.After obtaining the boarding card and baggage tag,it was taking more time than before for dropping the baggage,because of the above mentioned reason.Hope this aspect get better so that people can check in quickly.Keep up the time schedule like and Air India can bring back its glory days. I have been traveling for the last 46 years and Air India 747 of the 70’s and 80’s were memorable.. #AIFans #FlyAI

Good to see the champ training early morning on New Year’s Day, after coming straight from China. Tough season ahead starting with the Malaysian Open next week. I am sure you will erase the disappointment of not getting the medal at the Olympic Games last year with some major titles under your belt this year. Remain sincere and focussed Lakshya! @lakshya_sen @YonexSunriseIn @BAI_Media @Media_SAI @OGQ_India

@PRANNOYHSPRI @toisports Congratulations

The ‘suits’ effect is real but w/ a twist at the TOISA tonight! Thank you @toisports , for the recognition and the award 🫶🏼

Hearty congrats to our women's team for their historic triumph! Seems like the next generation of youngsters to fill Saina and Sindhu's shoes have arrived with a bang!! And what a talented and feisty bunch they are - Anmol Kharb, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Taneesha Crasto, Ashmita Chaliha, Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah are just a few, and I'm sure many more will follow!! This is a wonderfully talented pool of players whom we need to nurture and groom for the future!

This a must read for all parents of youngsters who are aspiring to make a mark in professional sports abc.net.au/news/2024-01-2…