NewzVille Desk
Today is World Badminton Day, Badminton World Federation (BWF) celebrates badminton not only for its speed, skill and excitement, but also its power to bring people together and shape lives.
For P. V. Sindhu and Ho Yuen Chan Daniel, the sport has meant far more than medals and titles. It has given them purpose, connection and a sense of belonging that reaches across the globe.
One of badminton’s most recognisable stars, everything begins with desire for Sindhu.
“Badminton is my passion, you need to play with passion and enjoyment, and automatically you will enjoy the sport” Sindhu says.
An Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016 and bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020, she became world champion in 2019, adding to an impressive collection of World Championships medals that began with a bronze in 2013.
“When I won my first World Championships medal, it gave me a lot of confidence,” she added. “That took me forward and helped me grow.”
She got world No.2 position in 2017 and claimed Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, cementing her place among the sport’s greats.
Today, she continues to shape the sport beyond her playing career, as Chair of the BWF Athletes’ Commission and a member of the BWF Council. As a global ambassador, she represents not just excellence but also the values badminton stands for.
“Badminton gave me fame, friendships and the opportunity to travel to different countries,” she said. “I never expected that when I first started.”
For Sindhu, those human connections are among the sport’s greatest rewards.
“You stay healthy, you meet people around the world and you make friends,” she said. “The love and support from fans, whether I was at my lowest or at my best, is something I will always cherish.”
That same spirit runs through the story of Ho Yuen Chan, the former WH1 Para badminton player, discovered the sport after a life‑changing accident and credits it with helping him rebuild his life.
“Badminton is like my faith,” he said. “It rebuilt my confidence, gave me purpose and allowed me to recreate my life with strength and dignity.”
His career reached its peak on the Paralympic stage, where he won bronze at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024.
“The Paris final was especially meaningful because it was the last international match of my career,” he said. “From the first day I became an athlete, I dreamed of retiring at my peak.”
Like Sindhu, Chan values what badminton gave him beyond results.
Chan also embraced leadership roles, serving as Chair of the BWF Para Athletes’ Commission and as a member of the BWF Council.
“These opportunities allowed me to represent my community and advocate for athletes’ rights,” he reflected.
Their stories capture what makes badminton so special. It is a sport that keeps people active, builds confidence, creates lifelong friendships and connects communities across borders and cultures.
BWF founded in 5 July 1934, to mark the day from 2022, the federation observes World Badminton Day on this very day.
On this World Badminton Day, the message is simple: raise a racket, play with passion and enjoy our wonderful sport.
