Over the last decade, the popularity of badminton has increased tremendously in India. Most of the credit goes to the queens of Indian badminton, Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu. From the Super Series titles to Olympic medals, Saina and Sindhu have attracted attention across the World. Moreover, they are the role models for badminton in India.
Just like other sports, rivalries exist in badminton too. Let me take you across the rivalry and head to head record that exists between PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. The legends have played against each other 4 times on the International circuit and Saina leads 3-1 in the head to head record.
While Saina has earned the first Indian Olympic medal in badminton, Sindhu went further to change the color of the Olympic medal. While Saina was the first Indian to become World no.1, Sindhu’s five World Championship medals are noteworthy. Both of them have helped to craft India’s name on the World map of Badminton.
Now let’s go through some nail-biting and dramatic encounters between Saina Nehwal vs PV Sindhu.
Table of Contents
2014 India Grand Prix Gold
The 2012 London Olympics Bronze medallist beat compatriot and second seed, PV Sindhu in straight games to claim the women’s singles crown. Saina was the first seed of the tournament and she won the final 21-14, 21-17 in 40 minutes to earn her first title since the 2012 Denmark Open Super Series premier.
2017 India Open
The shuttlers met again at the 2017 India Open. Sindhu avenged her 2014 India Open loss to Saina Nehwal who defeated her 21-14, 21-17. Three years later Sindhu returned the favor by winning the match in straight games 21-16, 22-20 against Saina Nehwal.
They met at the quarterfinals of the tournament and the 21-year-old Sindhu used her aggression to win the first game in just 19 minutes. Though the second game went on to be a dicey encounter, Sindhu successfully prevailed and prevented a deciding game. This was Sindhu’s first victory against Saina on the International circuit. Also, to take a look at Sindhu’s five best performances so far, click here.
2018 Commonwealth Games
After a heartbreaking loss at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Saina made up for the loss by defeating her rival, PV Sindhu to win her second Commonwealth Badminton Gold medal. This was a major comeback for Saina after being caressed with a knee injury.
At the Commonwealth Games in Australia, Saina was a doubtful hope for India but she overcame all challenges to prove her mettle and determination. She not only helped India to a gold medal in the mixed team event but also won the women’s singles -once again, with a victory against PV Sindhu.
Saina beat PV Sindhu in straight games 21-18, 23-21, and a 64-shot rally at 17-18 in the second game was a highlight of the contest. This was one of the finest performances of Saina Nehwal against PV Sindhu.
2018 Indonesia Masters
Former World no. 1 asserted her supremacy against the Olympic Silver medallist, PV Sindhu, to enter the semifinals of the Indonesia Masters.
Saina won the match in straight games 21-13, 21-19 that lasted for 37 minutes.
Other Matches
The legends met each other the finals of the BAI Senior National Championships as well. At the 2017 and 2019 National Championships, Saina beat Sindhu in straight games.
2017 National Championships: 21-17, 27-25
2019 National Championships: 21-18, 21-15
Final Thoughts
Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu are the treasures of Indian Badminton. Their rivalry has entertained fans all around the World. Currently, Sindhu is ranked World no. 6 and Saina ranks World no. 20 on the BWF ranking list. According to the ranking list, Sindhu has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and hopefully, after the tournament resumes, even Saina has a chance to qualify for her third Olympics.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep Playing.
Yellow, Red and Black Cards in Badminton
In badminton, three penalty cards are given to players for misconduct- yellow, red, and black. Sometimes, while watching a badminton match, you might have observed the umpire calling a player and raising the hand with a card of a certain color. Well, you might be wondering what do those cards mean? In this article, I have got it all answered.
What does Yellow Card mean in Badminton?
A Yellow card is issued by an umpire when a player breaches the official BWF game laws. Moreover, it is a warning for misconduct. The Umpire calls the offending player and loudly announces its name and ‘Warning for misconduct’. At the same time, the umpire raises his/her right hand holding a yellow card above the head.
Whenever a yellow card is given, a monetary fine is imposed on the player.
The instances when a yellow card can be given to a player/team are:
- Throwing a Racket
A player throwing a racket into the opponent’s court or sliding under the net (and who also thereby obstructs or distracts an opponent), shall be considered a fault.
- Distractions
- When a player stops the opponent making a legal stroke when the shuttle is followed over the net.
- When a player deliberately shouts or makes gestures to disturb the opponent.
- Leaving the Court without permission
A player must not leave the court during the match without the umpire’s permission except during intervals.
- Unnecessary Delay
A player must not cause unnecessary delay of play deliberately. Under no circumstances, a play shall be delayed to enable a player to recover strength or wind or to receive advice. Also, any unnecessary walk around the court is considered a distraction.
- When a player deliberately modifies or damages the shuttle to change its speed or its flight.
- Coaching from off the court
Coaching off the court while the shuttle is in play is not allowed. The coaches are seated at the backside of the court except during intervals. There should be no distraction to play by a coach.
- When a player behaves in an offensive or inappropriate manner.
- Mobile Phone
If a player’s mobile phone rings on the court or its immediate surroundings, during a match, it shall be considered to be an offense and the player shall be penalized appropriately
What does a Red Card mean in Badminton?
A red card is given to singles/doubles players when two yellow cards are given to them by the umpire. The umpire calls out loud the name of the player, followed by ‘Fault for misconduct‘. At the same time, the umpire raises the right hand with a red card and calls the referee.
As it is considered a fault, when a player/team receives a red card, the opponents gain a point. Furthermore, the players/teams are fined with a heavy fine.
What does a Black card mean in Badminton?
When a player continues to breach the laws after even receiving a red card, the Umpire calls in the referee with a view to disqualification. If the referee agrees to disqualify the offending player, a black card is given to the Umpire by the referee.
The Umpire will call out the name of the player followed by ‘Disqualified for misconduct‘ and will raise his/her right hand holding the black card. When a player receives a black card, the player gets disqualified for the entire championship/tournament.
Also read: Badminton Rules: An exquisite guide
Final Thoughts
A yellow card is given for misconduct on the court. Remember, two yellow cards make one red card. Persistent misconduct after two red cards can punish you with a black card.
Therefore, follows all the badminton laws and keep your temper at the right place to avoid receiving these cards.
References
http://www.worldbadminton.com/rules/documents/bwfHandbook2010.pdf
http://www.worldbadminton.com/rules/#:~:text=16.2.,mandatory%20and%20of%20fixed%20duration).
10 Badminton Rackets under INR 1000 bucks
Over the past decade, the popularity of badminton has increased tremendously in terms of participation. Players like Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Srikanth Kidambi, and many more have inspired many youngsters to take up the sport. To start playing badminton, one crucial piece of equipment is a badminton Racket. You should select a racket according to your ability and experience. Of course, there might be a budget for your racket purchase. Don’t worry, in this article I have shortlisted the 10 best badminton rackets you can purchase for just under INR 1000.
Table of Contents
Li-Ning XP 707
This Aluminium racket is specifically designed for beginners who are just starting to play badminton. It is a very lightweight racket weighing about 100 gms so that players can play for a more extended period without feeling tired or exhausted.
It has an S2 grip size and is made of excellent quality of aluminum and carbon steel. Due to the carbon fiber material, enough strength is generated to hit powerful shots. The isometric shape gives you the flexibility to play challenging strokes for engaging games.
Overall, if you are looking for a racket for recreational purposes, this one is a perfect choice for its value for money.
Yonex GR 303
This racket is suitable for beginners and intermediate players. Considering its price and features, this racket is worth under 1000. This lightweight aluminum badminton racket weighs about 100 grams. The grip size G3 gives you a proper grip as found in other Yonex rackets. The impressive frame and shaft design make it durable with good control, and high accuracy.
The low torsion steel gives player flexibility and great ease. The product crafted with innovative technology. The aluminum framework contributes towards the performance of players, which enables to swing and play smashes with ease. Also, it is suitable for both men and women.
Price: 750
Yonex ZR 100 Aluminium Badminton Racket
This lightweight product made by Yonex is a revolutionary racket for beginners and intermediate players. It is built for players who like to play intense games with fast short rallies. ZR 100 comprises an aluminum frame that makes it lightweight and gives you the convenience to play. The isometric shape with a centered sweet spot presents the flexibility of more power to the player. It gives you more benefits compared to an oval shape in terms of stability and playing smashes.
The racket has BG 65 strings with high polymer nylon multifilament core. This helps you to generate more power as they are highly elastic. It has a comprehensive G4 grip size which gives you better hold over the racket. Overall, the aluminum frame won’t let you get tired easily, giving you better power and control.
Price: 500
Li-Ning XP 800
This racquet is a Srikanth Kidambi signature series that is ideal for beginners and intermediate players. The isometric design helps to increase the intensity and torque ability of the racket, thus helping in striking power.
The racket is light weighing around 96 gms and the aluminum alloy body is ideal for players who want to improve their game. It has a moderately-sized grip of size S2 and comes with a soft bag.
Price: 662
KD Silver Carbon Series Badminton Racket
These racket series come up with some exquisite features at a very low cost. The racket gives you the flexibility of quick and controlled hits with repulsion through the New Aero Frame.
The Aero frame technology minimizes air resistance and with minimal resistance, your swing speed will increase. It increases the reaction time for the players playing defensive strokes.
The Graphite shaft is lighter compared to steel and versatility to swing with speed and stability. The rackets can reduce vibration dampening offering your comfortable grip to hold. Also, they are inbuilt with nanomesh and carbon nano-tube material in the frame.
The Nanomesh adhesive combines with carbon which allows the shaft to build up more energy for smash and drive shots. For a player, they get the flexibility of fast racket swing with adequate stiffness.
The frame is square ISOMETRIC that is well designed to provide a sweet spot in all directions. Overall, it is one of the best choices for a racket under 1000.
Yonex GR 360
This racket is an excellent choice for beginners. The isometric shape of the racket provides a larger sweet spot for beginners to execute shots without using much power.
Made of aluminum, it is a lightweight racket weighing around 90 gms. It comes with a standard grip size of G4 which helps you use more arm power.
Price: 760
Cosco Cb-88 Badminton Racket
One of the well-known brands in sports equipment since 1980, Cosco has developed several innovative products. Well, the Cosco Cb-88 is ideal for beginners and recreational players. The aluminum frame allows you to play longer without using much power. The grip size of G5 is suitable for players with smaller hands. If not, you can modify the grip according to your needs.
It is a power racket with weighing around 100 gms. The string tension varies from 18-20 lbs which provides you a greater sweet spot, allowing you to hit better shots.
With an excellent grip and control, this is an ideal racket under 1000 for beginners.
Price: 1050 (pack of 2 rackets)
Nivia N Ray 100
This lightweight racket weighing just around 77 gms is an ideal choice for beginners as it gives more control. Moreover, the isometric shape with a string tension of 22lbs provides you a larger sweet spot to hit shots using less power.
Overall, this is an ideal racket for beginners and intermediate players which comes along with a racket cover.
Price: 995
Li-Ning XP 90-II
This lightweight racket is made up of aluminum and is suitable for beginner badminton players. This only weighs 86-89 grams. This racket comes with medium flexibility.
The grip size offered with this is S2. The isometric shape makes it easier for you to hit shots. The shaft available is a high tensile slim shaft so you will not need much strength to execute shots.
Victor Mirage Badminton Racket
The product is one of the best badminton in India under 1000. The carbon shaft benefit is better compared to aluminum as it improves the smash performance.
The racket provides a combination of power and speed because of the combination of aluminum alloy and carbon material. The length of the modern Victor racket is 26.1 that offers you secure handling being lightweight and of adequate size. The Isometric racket head, which is a perfect head shape for beginner or intermediate, results in robust and controlled play.
Final Thoughts
Well, these are 10 best rackets among which you can choose with a budget under 1000. So if you are a beginner, start with these rackets and don’t directly jump to professional rackets. With the progression of your game, you can progress to an advanced racket. To check out good professional rackets, click here.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.
Kento Momota: Racquet, Shoes, Grip, and String
Kento Momota is currently the World no. 1 men’s singles player in the World. In this article, I will share with you the supreme Yonex combination including the racquet, grip, shoes, and string used by the reigning World Champion.
Racquet: Astrox 99
Shoes: SHB65Z2M
String: Aerobite
Grip: Towel Grip
Take a look at the detailed description of all these equipment’s.
Racquet: Yonex Astrox 99
Astrox 99 is one of the best for players with an attacking style of play. It is the choice of the reigning World Champion and top men’s singles player in the World.
Introduced in 2018, it replaced Yonex Astrox 88D as the defacto singles badminton racket for several top players. Let’s look at its top features.
Grip Size: G4
Yonex has used the slimmest shaft in the racquet due to which player will get better aerodynamic property which helps in fast racket swing and maximum power on shots.
Moreover, it has a stiff shaft badminton racket that offers great power and professional player level accuracy on control shots. Usually, stiff shaft rackets are considered suitable for control play.
Weight: 4U (80-84.9 gms).
NAMD Material:
This material is new dimension graphite, NAMD, which is created by attaching nanomaterial directly to the graphite fiber to produce a greatly improved adhesion of the graphite fiber and resin.
This major improvement is a shaft that flexes and stores energy, delivering explosive force on impact with the shuttlecock.
This is a new material technology. The racquet is made up of this material which helps in better power and accurate shot shitting on the court.
Rotational Generator System:
This helps in a smooth transition from shot to shot by applying counterbalance theory. The weight is distributed throughout the grip end, frame top, and the joint for maximum control. The weight transition enables a player to generate a steeper smash.
Overall, this racquet is suitable for professional players with good power and precise control. To know more about the best Yonex Badminton racquets, click here.
Shoes: Yonex SHB 65 Z2 MEN
This pair of shoes is the current favorite of Kento Momota. Click on the above image to check its prize on Amazon. Its exquisite features truly help in enhancing the on-court performance. Let’s look at some of them-
Power Cushion Plus-
Compared to the traditional power cushion, the new power cushion boasts 25% more shock absorption and 12% more repulsion.
Toe Assist Shape –
The toe centric design cuts down the pressure on the big toe and offers a stable fit with improved support at the mid-foot and heel. This helps to reduce power loss and enhance swift footwork.
Lateral Shell-
The lateral shell prevents sliding at the edge of the sole. It reduces power loss, increases footwork response, and creates smooth, offensive foot movements.
Synchro-Fit Insole-
It creates a secure contact between foot and shoe, reducing energy wastage through an improved fit.
Power Graphite Lite-
This graphite plate is inserted under the middle portion of the foot to increase stability and reduce weight within the shoe.
Round Sole-
It is designed to provide all-around support for quick and smooth footwork. Moreover, it ensures smooth movements and the transfer of maximum energy.
Hexa Grip –
The hexagrip pattern comes with 3% more grip and is 20% lighter than standard sole material.
Double Russel Mesh-
This is extremely lightweight and durable and provides eight times more air-exchange for releasing moisture than ordinary mesh fabric.
Overall, this pair of shoes is suitable for agile players that prefer a blend of comfort and speed.
String: Yonex Aerobite
The Yonex Aerobite string is a revolutionary string created by Yonex. It is the first-ever hybrid string combo with alternating gauges and coating in the main and cross strings. The string applies heavy spin for decisive cut smashes or a solid touch for strong smashes.
Grip: Yonex Towel Grip
A towel grip is a comfortable grip that provides good sweat absorption.
If you are an aggressive player with a power playing style, you should try out a towel grip. To know more about badminton grips, click here.
Final Thoughts
Well, this is a detailed description of all the equipment used by Kento Momota. Try and use them depending on your style of play.
I hope you found this article helpful.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.
Carolina Marin: 5 greatest wins of her career
Badminton has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1992. Before 2016, every gold medallist in Women singles was an Asian. Well, this changed after Carolina Marin of Spain won the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first European woman to do so.
When we talk about Women’s badminton in India, the names that come to our mind immediately are Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu. Similarly, Carolina Marin is the first badminton player from Spain to earn success in badminton.
A simple girl from Huelva, from the outskirts of Spain, rose to be the best in the World. Let me take you across her five best performances on the court so far.
2014 BWF World Championships
Marin’s first taste of success came at the 2014 World Championships held in Copenhagen. She was the ninth-seeded player and exceeded all expectations by defeating World no. 1 and Olympic gold medallist, Li Xuerui from China.
Marin recovered from dropping the opening game to complete an incredible 17-21, 21-17, 21-18 victory and earn her country its first-ever major title in the sport.
The 21-year-old became the first Spaniard and third European to win a gold at the World Championships. Moreover, she became the youngest European to win the World Championships ever.
2015 All England Open
Carolina Marin became the first Spanish player to win the prestigious All England Open title in 2015. In the finals, she defeated India’s Saina Nehwal by a score of 14-21, 21-16, 21-7 in 62 minutes. She achieved the World no. 1 rank after this title.
In the same year, she defended her BWF World Championships title and won five superseries titles. Consequently, she won the BWF Player of the year award for her spectacular performance in that season.
2016 Rio Olympics
Carolina Marin entered the Rio Olympics as the first seed full of confidence with eyes firmly set on the gold medal. She came into the Olympics as a two time defending World Champion. Moreover, Marin came back from a game down to defeat P V Sindhu 19-21, 21-12, 21-15, in 83 minutes and create history.
She thereby dented Asia’s Olympic supremacy in badminton. This was a historic moment for Spain and indeed Europe. Huelva even named a sports venue after her name.
2018 BWF World Championships
Marin went on to be crowned as a World Champion for a record three times, the first woman player to achieve this feat. Marin defeated her noble rival, PV Sindhu, 21-19, 21-10 in just 46 minutes to pocket her third World Championship gold medal. This was a strong comeback by Marin after a weak 2017 season due to injuries and poor form.
Previously, in 2015, Marin defended her 2014 World Championship title by beating Saina Nehwal of India 21-16, 21-19.
2019 China Open
Marin suffered a career-threatening ACL knee injury in the final of the Indonesia Masters earlier in January. She recovered within seven months and made a comeback at the Vietnam Open but suffered an opening-round exit.
However, Marin bounced back by defending her China Open title. She defeated Tai Tzu Ying, with a score of 14–21, 21–17, 21–18 in 65 minutes. In particular, she lost her last six meetings against the Taiwanese, Tai Tzu Ying. The 26 year old managed to outpace Tai Tzu Ying in longer rallies forcing her to make mistakes. Meanwhile,this was the Spaniard’s first title of the season.
By the end of the year, Marin deservedly broke into the world top 10 of BWF women’s singles ranking.
Final Thoughts
According to the recent BWF ranking list, Marin is ranked World no. 6 with 76,210 points. Likewise, in the BWF Olympic Qualification list, she is ranked World no. 5. It would be interesting to see if the Spaniard would defend her 2016 Rio Olympics title at the Tokyo Olympics.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.
Badminton Grips: Types and Criteria for selection
A good badminton grip can help to improve your performance. It allows you to hold and play with the racquet comfortably. Grips can also help in sweat absorption which allows you to hold the racquet tightly, even while you are sweating.
However, most of us don’t know the importance of a badminton grip. In reality, a grip makes a world of difference for professional players. Therefore, while selecting a racquet don’t miss out on the most important part if it- the grip.
While choosing a badminton grip, it is important to examine your style of play and what grip works best for you. This will help you to perform optimally. In this article, I have explained the different types of badminton grips and the criteria that you should consider while selecting one.
Types of Badminton Grips
There are generally three types of badminton grips.
1. Rubber/Replacement Badminton Grips
This is the most common type of badminton grip. A replacement grip is a grip that replaces the original grip of the racquet. Though the racquet comes with a rubber grip, it is usually of low quality. I suggest you change the default grip because it slips easily and it is not attached properly to the racquet shaft.
Good rubber badminton grips are usually made up of synthetic rubbers such as Polyutherene or PU. These grips provide comfort and act as a cushion between your fingers and the shaft of the racquet. They are also great sweat and shock absorbers.
2. Overgrips
These are similar to the replacement grips but they are much thinner and cheaper than them. As the name suggests, it is used as a covering over the original grip of the racquet. The purpose is to provide a thicker handle for a power play.
An overgrip if wrapped directly on the handle’s wooden surface would be a very thin surface. However, many players wrap multiple overgrips over the shaft. Well, these grips come in a variety of sizes according to thickness.
- G1 – 3 inches
- G2 – 3 ¼ inches
- G3 – 3 ½ inches
- G4 – 3 ¾ inches
- G5 – 4 inches
3. Towel Grip
Towel grips are made of cotton. They are ideal for players with sweaty palms as cotton absorbs swear very efficiently. However, an inferior quality towel grip can be thick and heavy. Also, they need to be changed frequently as swear accumulates which causes bacteria to breed.
If you are an aggressive player with a power playing style, you should try out a towel grip.
Style of Play
1. Power Play: Focus on Powerful shots
If you prefer playing smashes, jump smashes and other powerful shots, then it is best you use a thicker grip. Players who attack often, generally hold the racquet handle tighter in order to generate maximum power for strong smashes.
Also, ensure that the racquet head is heavier than the handle in order to drive such powerful shots over the net. So if you are into a power play, it is best if you use a thicker grip. Here are the options that you can consider:
- Original Grip+ Towel Overgrip
- Original Grip+PU Replacement grip
- Original Grip+PU Replacement grip+PU Overgrip (if your palm is bigger)
2. Control Play: Focus on Accuracy and Technique
If you like a control play by playing drops, net shots, deceptions, and other technical shots, then its best you use a thinner grip. The reason being you don’t require that much power for a control play.
A thinner grip ensures that your fingers stay flexible and this will help you execute a variety of shots. However, you need to ensure that the racquet handle is heavier than the head for a more controlled style play. Here are the options you can consider:
- Original Grip+ PU Overgrip
- Only Towel Grip
- Original grip+PU Replacement Grip (only if your palm is bigger)
Final Thoughts
So if you have a power style of play, lookup for a thicker grip to generate that power. On the contrary, if you have a controlled style of play, choose a thinner grip.
Consider your palm size as well before choosing a gripping pattern. So select a grip accordingly and keep trying different combinations to see what’s best for you.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.