Sindhu and Lakshya’s Hylo Open victories overshadowed by funding controversy
Indian badminton had a memorable weekend as PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen won the women’s and men’s singles titles at the 2026 Hylo Open in Saarbrücken, Germany. Their victories brought renewed optimism for the sport after a challenging period. However, the celebrations have also brought attention to a funding controversy involving the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
According to a report published by The Indian Express on November 3, the Indian badminton contingent was left to manage several expenses during its European tour after SAI declined to release funding support. The tour included four consecutive tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany. Players were reportedly informed about the funding decision just days before the Arctic Open began in Vantaa, Finland, on October 6.
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SAI cites delay in BAI’s funding proposal
The funding issue has raised questions about the coordination between the national sports authority and the badminton federation. Some officials involved in the sport reportedly suspected that the withdrawal of financial support could be connected to India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games.
However, a senior SAI official denied that the decision was related to the team’s performance. The official reportedly attributed the non-release of funds to BAI’s failure to submit the required proposal within the prescribed deadline.
According to the explanation provided by the SAI official, federations were earlier expected to submit proposals 90 days before an event without player names and 60 days in advance with the names. The timeline was subsequently revised to 30 days after federations raised concerns about the earlier requirements.
The official said the revised deadline applied to all national sports federations and that SAI could not process funding requests if the proposal containing the players’ names was not submitted at least 30 days before the tournament. SAI also indicated that funding support for upcoming tournaments would be restored, but players would not receive reimbursement for expenses already incurred during the previous four weeks.
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Players forced to manage travel and accommodation costs
The funding uncertainty reportedly placed an additional financial burden on members of the Indian contingent. According to the report, BAI informed players that accommodation would be arranged for the first tournament in Finland. However, they would have to meet several expenses, including travel, food and accommodation, for the remaining events.
PV Sindhu said she was surprised when she learned that the funding had not been approved. Speaking to The Indian Express, she said she had not faced such a situation before. Despite the unexpected development, she decided that the lack of funding should not prevent her from competing.
Sindhu explained that her priority was to participate in the tournaments, concentrate on her matches and continue improving her performance. She also said that she arranged part of the required funding herself, while Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), which supports her, provided additional assistance.
The situation also affected support staff. Some players reportedly competed without their regular coaches because they could not afford the additional expenses while already managing their own travel and accommodation costs.
At the French Open, Ashmita Chaliha reportedly had fellow Indian player Isharani Baruah in her corner when she defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi. Tanvi Sharma, who reached the quarter-finals of the Denmark Open, also competed without a coach guiding her during a match.
Withdrawals raise concerns about the impact on players
The financial difficulties were also reflected in the participation numbers at the European tournaments. While a 26-member Indian contingent competed at the Arctic Open in Finland without withdrawals, six players reportedly pulled out of the Denmark Open. Seven withdrew from the French Open, while nine withdrew from the Hylo Open.
The report linked the withdrawals to the financial constraints faced by players during the tour. Although the exact reasons for every individual withdrawal were not independently established in the report, the situation has renewed concerns about whether administrative and funding delays could affect athletes’ opportunities to compete internationally.
The controversy has also highlighted the importance of timely communication between sports federations and funding authorities. International tournaments involve advance planning for flights, accommodation, coaching staff and other arrangements. Any last-minute uncertainty can create additional pressure on athletes, particularly those who do not have access to private financial support.
Indian players deliver despite uncertainty
Despite the funding difficulties, Indian shuttlers produced several strong performances during the European leg.
Sindhu reached the final of the French Open Super 750 tournament before finishing as runner-up to South Korea’s An Se-young. Ashmita Chaliha also attracted attention with her victory over world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi. Anmol Kharb reached the semi-finals of the Hylo Open.
The campaign concluded with a double singles triumph at the Hylo Open. Sindhu defeated Denmark’s Line Kjærsfeldt 21-12, 21-14 to win the women’s singles title. Lakshya Sen defeated Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-17, 21-10 to secure the men’s singles crown.
For Sindhu, the Hylo Open was her second title of the year. The achievement also marked her first season since 2017 in which she won two BWF Super 500 or higher-level titles in a calendar year, according to the report. The result strengthened her prospects of qualifying for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals and helped her return to world No. 6 in the rankings. Lakshya Sen’s victory ended a year-long wait for a BWF World Tour title.
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BAI response awaited as funding questions remain
The funding dispute has placed the working relationship between SAI and BAI under scrutiny. While SAI has cited the delayed submission of the funding proposal as the reason for withholding support, BAI general secretary Sanjay Mishra did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment, according to The Indian Express.
The issue is significant because government funding and federation coordination play an important role in enabling Indian athletes to participate in international competitions. Even experienced players can face difficulties when financial arrangements are not confirmed in advance, while emerging athletes may have fewer resources to manage unexpected expenses.
SAI’s reported assurance that funding for upcoming tournaments will be restored offers some relief. However, the decision not to reimburse expenses already incurred leaves questions about how the affected players and support staff will be compensated.
Sindhu’s response reflects the determination of athletes to remain focused on competition despite administrative challenges. Nevertheless, the episode has underlined the need for clearer communication, timely submission of proposals and reliable financial planning. The victories of Sindhu and Lakshya Sen have given Indian badminton a reason to celebrate, but the funding controversy has also raised questions about the support system behind the country’s international athletes.
