India’s top five best performances at Sudirman Cup

India’s best finish in the Sudirman Cup is reaching the quarter-finals twice.

The Sudirman Cup, the world’s premier mixed team badminton event, has long been a battleground of the best. For India, the tournament has been both a challenge and a platform for steady growth. Since their debut in 1991, India have featured in every edition, gradually rising through the group ranks.

While a top-three finish still await them, the national team has reached the quarterfinals twice and recorded landmark victories over powerhouses like Indonesia and Malaysia. However, they have never been able to go past the group stages in recent years.

That said, here’s a look at India’s top five best performances at the Sudirman Cup over the years:

5. Group toppers (1991)

In Copenhagen, Denmark, the 1991 edition saw India participate in Group 5. The team delivered a clean sweep:

• Beat Finland 4-1
• Beat United States 4-1
• Beat Poland 3-2

Though Group 5 didn’t feed into the main title contention, India’s unbeaten run reflected strong potential at a time when international exposure was limited.

4. Group toppers (2007)

At the 2007 Sudirman Cup in Glasgow, India displayed one of its most dominant group-stage performances. Competing in Group 3B, India defeated:

• Australia 4-1
• Ukraine 5-0
• Scotland 5-0

They then overcame Bulgaria in the playoff to top Group 3 overall. The final playoff for promotion to Group 2, however, ended in a defeat to France.

Also Read: Which nations have won Sudirman Cup trophy?

3. First promotion to Group 2 (2009)

Though not a knockout finish, 2009 in Guangzhou was significant. Competing in Group 3, India won all its ties against Australia, Scotland, and Bulgaria to earn promotion to Group 2.

This campaign was driven by the likes of Saina Nehwal, Chetan Anand, and the men’s doubles duo Sanave Thomas/Rupesh Kumar. The clean sweep gave India the confidence and momentum to challenge stronger nations in the years that followed.

2. Quarter-finals (2011)

India made history in Qingdao, China, by reaching the quarter-finals of Sudirman Cup for the first time. Grouped with Thailand and Chinese Taipei, the Indian contingent opened with a narrow 3-2 win over Taipei, with Saina Nehwal getting the better of a young Tai Tzu-ying. A loss to Thailand followed, but India still qualified for the knockouts.

In the quarters, India faced the mighty hosts China. Despite the odds, Saina stunned world no #3 Wang Xin, delivering one of the most memorable wins of the tournament. Though India lost the tie 1-3, the performance established India as a growing force in world badminton.

Also Read: Will Sudirman Cup 2025 offer prize money?

1. Quarter-finals (2017)

In Gold Coast, Australia, India replicated its quarter-final feat. Placed in a tough group alongside Denmark and Indonesia, India suffered a 1-4 loss to Denmark but bounced back with a historic 4-1 win over Indonesia, a badminton powerhouse.

PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and the mixed doubles pair of Satwik-Ashwini delivered strong performances. The win over Indonesia was perhaps the finest team result India had produced in the competition.

The quarter-final saw India once again clash with China. Despite the 0-3 defeat, the campaign was a huge boost for India’s team credentials.

Final thoughts

India’s Sudirman Cup story is still a work in progress. The breakthroughs in 2011 and 2017 proved that the Indian team can challenge the elite.

Lakshya Sen, a Paris Olympic semi-finalist and All England finalist, has emerged as a key figure for India. With stars like Satwik-Chirag, HS Prannoy, Sindhu, Malvika Bansod, and an emerging doubles culture with Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand and Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa, India are inching closer to its long-awaited semi-final debut and perhaps more in the future.

In team events, the Indian men’s team won the Thomas Cup in 2022, while the Indian women’s team have been semi-finalists twice at the Uber Cup in 2014 and 2016. Powered by the experience of Sindhu and the brilliance of young Anmol Kharb, the Indian women’s team clinched a historic gold medal at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships.

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