SAI clears air on badminton funding cuts: BAI missed 30-day deadline, not Asian Games result
Synopsis
SAI has rejected claims that India's badminton funding was cut as punishment for a medal-less Asian Games — the real trigger was BAI's failure to file a travel proposal within the revised 30-day window. The irony: even as the funding row played out, Sindhu and Sen won at the Hylo Open 2026, the first time in four years two Indians claimed titles at the same Super 500 event.
Key Takeaways
SAI on 3 November 2026 denied that India's badminton funding cuts were linked to a medal-less Asian Games performance.
BAI failed to submit its travel proposal within the revised 30-day deadline , according to SAI sources.
SAI had already relaxed the deadline from 90/60 days to 30 days after BAI said earlier timelines were unworkable.
Funding was withheld for a four-tournament European leg covering Finland , Denmark , France , and Germany ; players were notified just days before the Arctic Open on 6 October .
Tanvi Sharma competed without a coach in Denmark; Ashmita Chaliha had fellow player Isharani Baruah as her corner support at the French Open.
PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen won titles at the Hylo Open 2026 Super 500 — the first dual Indian victory at that level in four years .
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 firmly dismissed reports that funding cuts to Indian badminton — affecting top players including PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen — were a consequence of the sport's medal-less outing at the Asian Games in Japan. According to SAI, the real reason was the Badminton Association of India's (BAI) failure to submit its travel proposal within the mandatory 30-day deadline.
What SAI Said
'BAI did not submit their proposal within the pre-set time. Federations will also have to start acting responsibly,' SAI sources said on Tuesday. The clarification came after widespread concern that India's underperformance at the Asian Games had triggered a punitive funding decision against the country's most commercially visible badminton stars.
How the Deadline Rules Changed
A SAI official explained that the submission timeline had already been revised to accommodate the federation's earlier complaints. 'Earlier, the rules required federations to submit proposals 90 days in advance without names and 60 days in advance with the names. This was primarily because you could plan your trip well in advance. But the federation said it could not do it that early, so we revised the deadline to 30 days,' the official said. Despite this relaxation, BAI reportedly still did not meet the revised deadline. 'Even then, we did not receive the proposal. These new guidelines apply to everybody. If we don't have the proposal with the names 30 days before a tournament, we will not process it,' the official added.
Impact on Players and Coaches
According to a report by the Indian Express, SAI declined to fund the European leg of the Indian contingent, which covered four back-to-back tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France, and Germany. Players were reportedly informed of this only days before the Arctic Open began on 6 October in Vantaa, Finland. The financial strain had tangible consequences on the ground: some athletes had to compete without coaching support. Tanvi Sharma, who reached the quarterfinals in Denmark, had no coach to guide her during matches. Meanwhile, Ashmita Chaliha had fellow India player Isharani Baruah in her corner when she beat Akane Yamaguchi at the French Open.
Indian Badminton's Bright Spot
Despite the funding controversy, Indian shuttlers delivered a landmark result in Germany. PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen were crowned women's singles and men's singles champions respectively at the Hylo Open 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event that concluded at the Saarlandhalle in Germany on Sunday. This marks the first time in four years that two Indian players have won titles at the same BWF World Tour event at the Super 500 level or above — underscoring the depth of Indian badminton even amid administrative friction.
What Happens Next
SAI's position places the burden of compliance squarely on national federations, signalling that administrative accountability will now be treated as a prerequisite for public sports funding. Whether BAI revises its internal planning processes to meet the 30-day window — or seeks further negotiation with SAI — will determine whether Indian shuttlers face similar disruptions ahead of the next international circuit.
Point of View
But it does not fully resolve the optics problem. Informing players of a funding withdrawal only days before a tournament — regardless of who missed the deadline — is a governance failure that sits on both sides of the table. The revision of the submission window from 90 days to 30 days suggests the original rules were already impractical; if BAI still could not meet the softer deadline, the question is whether SAI's compliance framework is designed for real-world tournament calendars or for bureaucratic convenience. The fact that Sindhu and Sen won a Super 500 double despite competing under these conditions points to the resilience of the athletes, not the system. Indian badminton's recurring funding controversies reflect a deeper structural tension: world-class athletes governed by administration that has not kept pace with their competitive demands.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Indian badminton players' funds cut by SAI?
SAI says the funding was withheld because the Badminton Association of India failed to submit its travel proposal within the mandatory 30-day deadline, not because of India's medal-less performance at the Asian Games. SAI has stated the rule applies to all federations equally.
Which tournaments were affected by the funding cut?
The funding withdrawal covered the European leg of the Indian badminton circuit — four back-to-back tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France, and Germany. Players were informed about the decision only days before the Arctic Open began on 6 October in Vantaa, Finland.
What did PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen achieve at the Hylo Open 2026?
Both Sindhu and Sen won their respective singles titles at the Hylo Open 2026, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event held in Germany. It was the first time in four years that two Indian players had won titles at the same BWF World Tour event at Super 500 level or above.
How did the funding issue affect players on court?
Some players had to compete without coaching support. Tanvi Sharma, who reached the quarterfinals in Denmark, had no coach during her matches. Ashmita Chaliha was supported by fellow Indian player Isharani Baruah — not an official coach — during her French Open win over Akane Yamaguchi.
Has SAI changed the proposal deadline rules for federations?
Yes. SAI had already revised the rule, relaxing the timeline from 90 days (without names) and 60 days (with names) down to 30 days after BAI said earlier deadlines were unworkable. SAI says even this revised 30-day requirement was not met by BAI for the European tour.
