In Pics From Padukone 1980 All England title to Sindhu Silver in 2017 World Championships Indian Badminton golden moments

Prakash Padukone

Indian shuttlers have brought laurels to the country by winning medals at the Olympics and World Championships. For a sport which has been dominated by the Far East nations like China, Japan and Korea for long, India had its moments to saviour with some stellar performances by their stalwarts in Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Sania Nehwal and PV Sindhu to name a few. Here is a rewind into the greatest accomplishments by Indian badminton players at the international arena over the years: Prakash Padukone wins all England Badminton Championships in 1980, Bronze in 1983 World Championships Prakash Padukone put Indian badminton on the World map by winning the All England badminton Championships in 1980. Padukone defeated Indonesia’s Liem Swie King in the finals to win the crown. He thereby became the first shuttler to win a major title at the international circuit. Padukone is also credited for being the first Indian to win a medal at the Badminton World Championships. He clinched the bronze in the 1983 World Badminton Championships.

Pullela Gopichand

Pullela Gopichand wins 2001 all England Badminton Championships Indians had to wait for over two decades for their next major triumph in badminton post Padukone's heroics in 80s. Pullela Gopichand emulated Prakash Padukone’s feat by winning the All England Badminton Championships in 2001. Gopichand beat China’s Cheng Long in the final to win the coveted trophy.

Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal – Bronze In 2012 London Olympics Saina Nehwal created history of sorts by becoming the first Indian badminton player to win a medal at the Olympic Games. Nehwal won the bronze in the women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics. Saina was a touch lucky as her Chinese opponent Wang Xin had to retire from the bronze medal playoff match. Saina also became the first Indian to win a silver at the World Championships in 2015.

PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu – Silver at 2017 BWF World Championships and 2016 Rio Olympics PV Sindhu created history by winning the Silver medal at the BWF World Championships. Sindhu also holds the record of being the first Indian to make it to the finals of a badminton event at Olympics. Sindhu lost a hard fought final to Spain's Carolina Marin and settled for silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She thereby became the first ever Silver medalist for India in badminton at the Olympics.