20-07-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
India win historic Badminton medal at FISU Games
Rhine-Ruhr (Germany), July 20 (UNI) India's mixed badminton team etched its name in the history books by clinching a first-ever medal in the sport at the FISU World University Games, securing a bronze today at the 2025 edition in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
This marks the first time India have made the podium in badminton since the sport was introduced to the World University Games programme in 2007.
India confirmed their bronze after a spirited 3-2 victory over Malaysia in the quarterfinals. As per tournament rules, both losing semifinalists were awarded bronze medals. The medal also became India's first at the ongoing Games.
In the semifinal clash against Chinese Taipei, India put up a valiant fight. Sathish Kumar Karunakaran opened the tie in men's singles but lost a hard-fought battle 1-2 (15-13, 13-15, 10-15) to Su Li Yang. Devika Sihag brought India level with a commanding 2-0 (15-10, 15-10) win in the women's singles over Huang Ching Ping.
The momentum, however, swung back as the men's doubles pair of Saneeth Dayanand and Karunakaran went down 0-2 (8-15, 13-15) to Chen Zhi-ray and Lin Yu Chieh. Tasnim Mir and Varshini Viswanath Sri then lost the women's doubles in straight games (3-15, 8-15) to Hsu Yin-Hui and Yang Chu Yun, sealing the tie for Chinese Taipei. The final mixed doubles match was not played.
Earlier in the competition, India defeated the USA 3-1 in the round of 16, blanked Macau China 5-0, and narrowly lost 2-3 to Hong Kong China in the group stage.
With this bronze, India are placed joint 29th in the medals tally with one medal. Over 300 Indian athletes are participating at the Rhine-Ruhr Games, including Paris 2024 Olympian Jeswin Aldrin and Asian Games medal-winners Ancy Sojan and Praveen Chithravel.
The 32nd edition of the FISU World University Games, running from July 16 to 27, features competition in 18 sports. India's best-ever showing came at Chengdu 2023, where the country finished seventh overall with 26 medals, including 11 golds — eight of which came from shooting.
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