Badminton is the second most played sport in India after Cricket. With Saina and Sindhu being the poster girls after winning Olympic medal. They are allready termed as greatest Indian badminton players of all time.
Men Singles player like Kidambi Srikanth have taken the world of Badminton by storm, creating history by winning 4 Super Series title in a calendar year. The giant killer termed, HS Prannoy also leads India’s charge alongside Sai Praneeth, Ajay Jayaram and Sameer Verma.
Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponappa are showing promises in Women doubles at the top level.
The pairing of Satwik and Chirag have given immense hope of delivering for India in the men doubles, a category where India doesn’t enjoy a vast history of extraordinary players. Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri are also in the fray.
The Mixed doubles pairing of Pranaav Chopra and Sikki Reddy have been a consistent performers. They even reached the semi-final of Japan Open in 2017 and we sense, there is alot to come from them.
However, India enjoys a rich history of producing some extraordinary shuttlers. As we bring you the list of Greatest Indian badminton players of all time.
Nandu Natekar
Nandu is referred as the most extraordinary stroke maker of his generation. Considered as the ‘God of Indian Badminton’ for his complete control, sublime strokes and exquisite artistry. People would travel vast distances and there would be long queues just to watch him play. He was nearly unbeatable at his home court CCI – where he even beat the six-time All England champion Erland Kops. He won the King’s Cup in Thailand and reached the quarterfinals of the All England in his only appearance there.
Suresh Goel
He was a brilliant touch artist with a most pleasing and exquisite style. When it came to supreme artistry & aesthetic grace in Indian badminton, Suresh Goel was perhaps the only other player who could be talked off in the same breath as Nandu Natekar – the great legend. He was the men’s national singles champion on five occasions from 1962 to 1970 and also won national titles in men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Sadly Suresh Goel is now a long-forgotten genius.
