What is the Neeraj Chopra-90m equivalent for Indian badminton? Sindhu’s 6th Worlds medal, SatChi’s hunt for global crown and more

The clamour to breach 90 metres might have gotten irritating for Neeraj Chopra, though it was a proper mystery why he hadn’t yet. That it had no bearing on him winning the Olympics or World Championship or any other competition he showed up at, made the mark even more intriguing and elusive. The ‘why’ wasn’t about throwing shade or nitpicking, nor abstractly rhetorical. Fans genuinely wished for that 90m to happen, believed the athlete imminently capable, and were gobsmacked it hadn’t yet. It was like wondering why Kidambi Srikanth, easily the most complete player of his generation and a fan favourite, never won the World Championships.
This chanting of numbers, obsessively manifesting it for stars, and watching it eventuate is perhaps fandom’s most meditative, therapeutic way of following sport. It keeps them invested in a completely frivolous event, even while the rest of the world is falling apart. It’s a coping mechanism and draction that can unlock brief joy. Cricket fans, of course, are severely fixated on century-marks. But for other sports in India, the wait for 90m and it finally coming through, are the journey why fans tune in. The collective sighs over that miss 6 centimetres back in 2022 was as much fan loyalty as was the exhaling glee after Chopra got the 90 done.
Srikanth might never play a World Championship final ever again, his 2021 silver being his best show. But a recalibrated 90m-esque goal for him could be stringing together one good week at the upcoming South East Asian swing and beating big names like before. Or just focussing exclusively on World Championships in August and becoming the first Indian male to win 2 medals.
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Goals keep sportspersons going from one rough day to next, like Chirag Shetty said recently. Maybe beating Julian Weber might’ve given Chopra another Diamond League title, but both crossing 90m for the first time, was an event for a nation to celebrate irrespective of the lost title. He called it bittersweet. As bittersweets go, Chopra’s 90m was Tiramisu. A box needing ticking, a restorer of faith in his ability to push boundaries, a whisked up storm to take on opponents in upcoming events. Everyone needs this 90s Show, and for shuttlers, beleaguered and faltering, a similar goal that’s not “an Olympic medal”, will keep them fizzing in training.

What could be Sindhu’s 90? A sixth World Championship medal – of any hue, possibly. She’s been so off the groove that even progressing to a weekend Friday seems tough. But should she get to 6 World Championship medals, Sindhu can go past Chinese great Zhang Ning on sheer volume. The August event in Paris can erase all past losses if Sindhu returns to her Worlds goal.
For Satwik-Chirag, who’ve had a torrid time, this phase now is the absolute trough that Chopra might’ve felt himself when he was struggling to cross 90m. Knowing he’s capable of it, knowing even more keenly that it needs patience. Satwik-Chirag boasted the same consency as Chopra till their results nosedived. They remain India’s strongest bets even today. But that feeling of contesting every title final, pummelling opponents with smashes, knowing they are atop the world has gone missing. For the fine duo, the 90 might well be a resurgence at the World Championship, and being in that final at their favourite haunt, Paris.
So much was expected of Lakshya Sen that his 4th place in Paris might never get due recognition as the best Indian male performance at the last Olympics. His Mission 90+ is a little vague. He is believed to have a lot of time on his hands to start winning again, but the titles haven’t really fetched up. His last memories of All England, Olympics are both losses, and he seems to be falling behind his peers Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Li Shifeng and Kodai Naraoka, even as a new Gen Next of Alwi Farhan, Ayush Shetty, Alex Lanier and Chinese Hu Zhe’an start striking big.Story continues below this ad
Sen will need to dig deep, knowing he has beaten all his peers from the 2018 Junior Worlds batch in the past, and he has the armoury to win again. But a severe confidence crisis and repeated losses mean, besides shoulder/back issues, Sen will have to put his head down and start chasing specific goals. His mentor Prakash Padukone and his predecessor Srikanth will both tell him that losses occur frequently, and just one win can lift him from his doldrums. But having clarity on what his 90-goal is, will be crucial to navigate the next three years till LA. Chopra will attest that eventually breaching the 90 was a matter of a few centimetres (6 cms), an incremental change of 29 cms – but getting there can take an awful long time.
The 90+ goal for Treesa-Gayatri is straightforward. They score upsets in team events and can really negotiate the clutch moments. But a Super500/+ title is the eye of the wooden bird they ought to target. Keep chipping away till it is finally nailed.

For the likes of HS Prannoy, the 90+ goal can be tricky. Just one muscle pull, and all dreams go kaput, so fitness remains key. But he’s won a Worlds medal (beating Viktor Axelsen, no less), gone to the Olympics, won Thomas Cup and got his first big Tour title last year. Yet, proving that Malaysia wasn’t a one-off would be swell. A goal to savour. Prannoy has the game and smarts to drag matches into a decider. But like NC’s draw-pull of the javelin from way behind his back, Prannoy will have to add immense load to upping his stamina if this last phase of his career has to yield a significant return. If yet another goal is to be achieved.
Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George haven’t seen their careers take off as expected, but both are far too talented in stroke-making to give up on them for another few seasons. Their 90+ aim will simply be deeper runs into tournaments. For Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, it might just be cracking the Top 10 and finding consency.Story continues below this ad
Not every sporting moment ends with a podium and medal. There are no silver medals at the Diamond League, in fact. But no reason not to celebrate the 90+ throw. Indian badminton could do with incremental gains of its own in this mid-Olympic cycle. Goal-setting of Indian sports’ GOAT is a fine playbook to follow.