India’s mixed team secured a historic bronze in badminton at the FISU World University Games 2025 in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, on Sunday – the country’s first medal in the sport at the prestigious university-level multi-sport event.
Badminton has been part of the World University Games programme since 2007, but this marks the first time India have reached the podium.
India’s medal was confirmed after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Malaysia in the quarter-finals, with both losing semi-finalists awarded bronze medals. This was also India’s first medal at the ongoing edition of the FISU World University Games.
In the semis against Chinese Taipei, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran was first up for India in the men’s singles but lost a tight contest 2-1 (15-13, 13-15, 15-10) to Su Li Yang.
Devika Sihag levelled the tie with a commanding 2-0 (15-10, 15-10) win over Huang Ching Ping in the women’s singles.
However, the momentum shifted back in favour of Chinese Taipei as the men’s doubles pair of Saneeth Dayanand and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran lost 2-0 (15-8, 15-13) to Chen Zhi-ray and Lin Yu Chieh.
In the women’s doubles, Tasnim Mir and Varshini Viswanath Sri also lost in straight games, going down 2-0 (15-3, 15-8) to Hsu Yin-Hui and Yang Chu Yun.
With the tie already decided, the mixed doubles match pitting Saneeth Dayanand and Vaishnavi Khadkekar against Wu Hsuan-Yi and Jheng Yu Chieh was not played.
The Indian team had earlier defeated the USA 3-1 in the round of 16. They also notched up a 5-0 win against Macau China and suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to Hong Kong China in the group stage.
India are currently joint 29th on the medals table with a solitary medal.
Over 300 Indian athletes are competing at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Games, including Asian Games medallists Ancy Sojan and Praveen Chithravel. Paris 2024 Olympian Jeswin Aldrin is also part of the contingent.
The 32nd edition of the FISU World University Games is being held from July 16 to 27, with medals being contested across 18 sports.
India’s best-ever showing at the World University Games came at Chengdu 2023, where they finished seventh overall with 26 medals (11 gold, 5 silver, 10 bronze), with shooting contributing 14 podium finishes, including eight golds.