Indian Badminton’s Secret Seven: Freeze-frame moments and mannerisms of India’s Olympic bound shuttlers

Paris might also well be the last time we see the likes of PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Ashwini Ponnappa in Olympic action. So, medal or not, here’s a not-so-secret list of typical tropes and signature sightings of India’s shuttle society of Secret Seven headed to Paris:

1. PV Sindhu

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu in action. (Express photo by Ravi Kanojia)

From Rio to Paris and with Glasgow, Basel and Carolina’s Spain thrown into the mix, there’s one camera-freeze that’s a constant whenever Sindhu is on the court: how when she takes a breather and walks off for a towel-down, she can double down flexibly to reach her toes without the knees bending. Two Olympics and 5 Worlds medals later, Sindhu has remained a superior athletic specimen and her ramrod straight silhouette and grand wingspan reach remains incomparable. There are a bunch of tear-your-hair-out occurrences – her line judgments can frustrate, though the last two months have shown extraordinary improvement in her review choices. Then there’s her proclivity to get provoked by tiny triggers when she loses a lead. And the heart-in-the-mouth shot-selection at 18-18. But there isn’t a more fierce fighter than her on a badminton court, in a long rally, especially if she reaches the medal round.

Do’s: Take the fight to the likes of Marin and Chen Yufei, just like the aggressive ol’ times.

Don’ts: Do not forget to apologize for a net chord point won, and to keep a calm head against the unflappable ones like Tai Tzu Ying and Akane Yamaguchi, who just cannot be rattled by decibel.

2. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, right, and Chirag Shetty play against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto during their men’s doubles quarterfinal match at Indonesia Open badminton tournament at Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. (AP)

His monster smashes are breathtaking, but watch out for when he slows down his breathing, chuckles and gets into positional play from the front court. You can literally watch him absorb pressure – nuance his power and slow down pace – while Chirag settles down his nerves. Watch him draw opponents to the net and casually float the shuttle to the backline. He carries that Indonesian vibe of loving every moment of the contest to bits, and through his whimsy serving and awkward body defending to majestic backtracking and smash leaps, Satwik remains the Cool Cat, never fazed on court. He will be forgiven if he forgets dance moves, if the gold is on the horizon. He will also never be forgotten as one half of India’s finest doubles pairing who make badminton immensely entertaining and partisan. His attitude on court especially when taking on nemesis from China or Denmark, is of a rivalry ablaze through ice cold veins.

Do’s: Share net-duties with Chirag. Match Korea’s intricate patterns with patience.

Don’ts: Do not hold back on all-out attack, against Malaysians and Indonesians.

3. Chirag Shetty

India’s Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy during the men’s doubles final badminton match against South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae and Kang Min-hyuk at the India Open 2024, in New Delhi, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (PTI Photo)

His swivel serves and blank face are iconic as is the diagonal sideways charge to the net in a blink. But watch for his perfect 1-2s with Satwik, when Chirag’s echo-smashes match the other one’s in sheer savagery as he leaps from right behind Satwik for a kill smash. There will be nervous blips from him, but he makes up for them unfailingly and in quick time too. His racquet changes mid-rally are dramatic, but nothing signals a fluent Chirag on a roll than his backhand scythes at the net while on the move. The headbands are well known and so is the ‘huuuudd’ cue for when he’s revving up for a rally. Both shuttlers tend to be reverential before entering the court and kiss the racquet head. Chirag’s chemistry with a furious Mathias Boe is what they call pure cinema – there’s a black book full of scribbles, a vein threatening to pop on the forehead and a real threat that Boe will shove them aside and start playing himself, if they don’t buck up and show some energy soon enough.

Do’s: Back yourself, because you have worked harder than most.

Don’ts: Do not panic. You will win, either right this moment, or 20 minutes later in the decider.

4. HS Prannoy

HS Prannoy of India in action. (AP)

If HS Prannoy was a movie, everyone can saunter in 20 minutes late, for the first set in invariably a trailer or ads for what is to follow. You can actually see his brain processing the conditions, the drift, the lengths, the opponent’s mistakes and discomforts, like he’s Iron Man’s 3D printed model for time travel. Wild one-sided scorelines making a mockery of momentum in first two sets, Prannoy can switch on his ace game as the finishing nears. His shots to behold – the surprise backhand down the line and increasingly the expansive cross smash. But the most mesmerising – and an indicator of a good day – is his unbelievable net control, inches over the tape and how he’s fearless against the biggest reputations. His stamina was suspect throughout 2024, but he’s a major YOOO believer – you only Olympic once, and will give it his all.

Do’s: Try to finish in 2, but not stress if it goes to 3.

Don’ts: Do not gift easy lifts, especially with flanks unguarded.

5. Lakshya Sen

India’s Lakshya Sen returns a shot during the men’s singles semi final match against Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie at the All England Open Badminton Championships at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Saturday. (AP Photo)

His compulsive, hypnotic reflex defense is the stuff of highlight packages. Sen’s dives and immersive rallies add to the lore. These are jaw dropping. His utter refusal to be bullied by a big name, and that poker mug that gives away nothing is a constant. For some strange reason, the round-the-head smashes have gone missing since coach Anup Sridhar left. But in the absence of a proper kill smash, Sen is compensating with parallel exchanges and length variations, mixing his tosses and drops and half smashes. Sen loves the big occasion – an All England semifinal, an Asiad team final, CWG title match. So, he was born to shine at the Olympics.

Do’s: Keep the intensity high between points 11 and 19. And then finish it off, anyway.

Don’ts: Do not for once believe that just the defense – which is spectacular and all other superlatives – will suffice. Points will need to be pointedly won.

6. Ashwini Ponnappa

Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto reached their first Super 500 semifinal. (BAI)

India’s quietest storm in badminton. She has evolved from being a bubbly junior to Jwala Gutta to a wise senior, who never transfers blame onto her hyper younger partner, and soaks the pressure staying kind and calm. One of the hardest smash hitters once, Ashwini has bought into the reality that women’s doubles will be attritional and lengthy and patience sapping retrieving. She still marshals the back court expertly but has grown into a clutch mentality. It’s difficult to maintain fitness standards at 34, but Ashwini has seldom taken to the court and not given her all. The clenched fist, the pursed lips all signal intense focus, though Ashwini sticking out her tongue and smiling a wry smile after a silly error will be missed. It’s just a game, she ought to remember, and she’s been a delightful champion.

Do’s: Vary the serves, Jwala believed them to be her underrated strength.

Don’ts: Do not underestimate your pairing. The experience you bring to the combination is priceless.

7. Tanisha Crasto

India’s Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto during the women’s doubles final badminton event against Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun and Yu Chien Hui at the Guwahati Masters 2023, in Guwahati, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. (PTI Photo)

The baby of this Indian badminton contingent. Her energy is infectious, she never gives up, and she digs the net battles. Tanisha can pull off some outrageous angles, if she stays calm and consistent through the punishing phases of a rally. She will scamper around, inject pace and find the gaps while squatting mid court. But the thing to watch is when she backs herself to take rare control of the rally like a puppeteer. Closing out is a challenge, and she’s inexperienced. But she has perhaps the finest control over round the heads from super imbalanced positions. No dearth of commitment, just needs to believe she can match the remaining three on court in strokes.

Do’s: Open up the back court for quick points.

Don’ts: Do not hold back or be afraid to make mistakes, as long as you are following the plan.