The victory of India in the just concluded prestigious Thomas Cup Badminton Tournament is historic and has the potential to change the scene of Indian badminton forever in the coming years. Many sports historians have compared it to the moment India won the cricket world cup in the year 1983. Both the achievements are extraordinarily significant because the odds were stacked against India. It is a moment of glory that brought cheers to the sports lovers in the country. In the 73-year history of the Thomas Cup Tournament, the top team event in men’s badminton, it is the first time that India has come with all guns blazing, recording a historic win. The victory is a testimony to the Indian squad’s talent, depth, strength and team spirit. The previous best performance of Indian shuttlers was the semi-final place in 1979.
Only five countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, and Denmark – have won the prestigious men’s badminton world championship so far. Of all the sporting triumphs that India had achieved, lifting the Thomas Cup must certainly find a place at the top. This triumph matches anything India has ever achieved in any sport because India beat three badminton superpowers in three high-pressure contests – Malaysia, Denmark, and Indonesia. In the last decade, the achievements of Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu have dominated the badminton scene. They have inspired many young badminton players. Badminton is fast emerging as one of the popular sports in India. The winning of the Thomas cup is further expected to give a fillip to badminton in the country.