Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen finished their European campaign with titles at the Hylo Open in Germany. However, their success came despite a funding problem that reportedly left several players paying for their own travel, food and accommodation.

To advertise here,

The Indian contingent competed in four tournaments across Finland, Denmark, France and Germany. According to a report by The Indian Express, the Sports Authority of India did not release the funding for the tour. Players were informed about the decision just days before the Arctic Open began in Finland on 6 October, leaving them little time to make alternative arrangements.

The setback affected not only players' finances but also their support arrangements, with some shuttlers travelling without their regular coaches.

PV Sindhu says she was shocked by the funding setback

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu said she was surprised to learn that the funding had not been approved. She told The Indian Express that she had not faced such a situation before.

"When I got to know, I was a bit shocked and wondered how the funding hadn’t gone through. I hadn't faced something like that before," Sindhu said.

The former world champion said her priority was to participate in the tournaments and concentrate on improving her performance.

She also revealed that she arranged some of the expenses herself, while Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), which supports her, provided additional assistance.

Sindhu said the lack of funding was surprising but did not change her approach to the competitions.

ALSO READ | Owono ‘deeply distressed’ after collision that killed Tenerife’s Jesús de Miguel; closes Insta account

Players had to manage travel, food and accommodation

The funding issue reportedly forced several Indian shuttlers to bear much of the cost of their European campaign.

While the Badminton Association of India had reportedly arranged accommodation for the opening tournament in Finland, players were expected to manage expenses for the remaining events.

The situation also affected their coaching support. Some players could not afford to travel with their regular coaches and had to compete without them.

Ashmita Chaliha, who defeated world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi at the French Open, had teammate Isharani Baruah supporting her during the tournament. Tanvi Sharma also competed without a coach at the Denmark Open.

Why did SAI not release the funding?

The funding decision raised questions about why the support was not approved for the Indian contingent.

There were suggestions that the decision could have been linked to India's performance at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where the country failed to win an individual badminton medal for the first time since 2014.

However, a senior SAI official denied that the Asian Games results had anything to do with the decision.

According to the official, the funding was not released because the Badminton Association of India failed to submit its proposal within the required deadline.

SAI's guidelines require national sports federations to submit funding proposals at least 30 days before a tournament. The proposal must include details such as the names of the players participating.

The official said the required documents were not received on time, which prevented the funding from being processed.

ALSO READ | Spanish footballer Jesus de Miguel dies after collision with goalkeeper

No reimbursement for players' European tour expenses

Although funding for upcoming tournaments has reportedly been restored, the players will not receive reimbursement for the expenses they incurred during the European campaign.

This means the shuttlers who arranged their own travel, accommodation and other costs will have to bear those expenses.

The issue has also raised concerns about the coordination between sports federations and government funding authorities, particularly when athletes have to travel abroad for international competitions.

Sindhu and Lakshya Sen still deliver titles

Despite the financial difficulties, Indian players produced several notable performances during the European tour.

Sindhu reached the French Open final, where she lost to South Korea's An Se-young. Ashmita Chaliha also recorded an important victory over Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, while Anmol Kharb reached the semi-finals of the Hylo Open.

The final tournament in Germany brought the biggest results for India.

Lakshya Sen won the men's singles title, ending a year-long wait for a tournament victory. Sindhu claimed the women's singles crown, securing her second title of the year.

It was also the first time since 2017 that Sindhu had won two BWF World Tour titles at Super 500 level or above in the same calendar year. Her victory improved her chances of qualifying for the World Tour Finals and helped her return to world No. 6.

A funding delay raises questions about support for Indian athletes

The European tour has highlighted a gap between the performances expected from Indian athletes and the financial support needed to help them compete internationally.

SAI has attributed the funding problem to the BAI's failure to submit its proposal within the stipulated timeline. The explanation places the responsibility on the national federation rather than on the athletes.

However, the consequences were felt directly by the players, some of whom had to arrange their own expenses and compete without their regular coaches.

The decision not to reimburse players for the European tour also means that the financial burden will remain with those who paid for their participation.

The episode raises questions about coordination between sports federations and funding authorities. Timely paperwork and approval processes are important, but athletes also need clarity about travel arrangements and financial support well before international tournaments begin.

Sindhu and Lakshya Sen's titles brought positive results for Indian badminton. However, their performances have also drawn attention to the administrative and financial challenges that players can face away from the court.