EPISODE · Feb 6, 2026 · 1H 21M
Why Badminton Is India’s Big Sport After Cricket | Abhijeet | EP-02 Samir Pai | The Inner Athlete
from The Inner Athlete · host The Inner Athlete
Indian badminton didn’t rise overnight.From Prakash Nath’s heartbreaking All England final in 1947, to Saina Nehwal’s relentless mental discipline, to the historic Thomas Cup victory — this is the real story of Indian badminton.In this episode of The Inner Athlete, we sit down with Abhijit Kulkarni, sports journalist, mentor, and author of The Gopichand Factor, to decode:• How Saina Nehwal and Pullela Gopichand formed a “match made in heaven”• Why Indian badminton lost champions before professionalism arrived• The mental framework behind elite performance• The untapped commercial potential of badminton in India• Why leagues fail but legacy tournaments matter• How grassroots funding can change lives• Why sport is more than medals — it’s social transformationThis is not just a badminton conversation.It’s about systems, mindset, leadership, and legacy.📘 Book discussed: The Gopichand Factor📍 Guest: Abhijit Kulkarni👤 FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Abhijeet KulkarniX: https://x.com/abk6580?s=11&t=bPrhrNkEpZB9aCa0shOT5QFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/abhijeet.kulkarni.167LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhijeet-kulkarni-b064225a?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios🔔 FOLLOW THE INNER ATHLETEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinnerathlete.in/X (Twitter): https://x.com/InnerAthlete_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirpai11/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheInner_AthleteWe’re always looking for insightful voices from the world of sport.If you know someone whose story or expertise deserves a platform on The Inner Athlete, recommend them here:👉 Google Form Link : https://forms.gle/aArYuQujuXDG9kCn8Your recommendation could spark our next impactful conversation.Sport has the power to shape individuals, communities, and nations — but only when we understand it deeply.Thank you for being part of The Inner Athlete journey.Stay curious. Stay active. Keep training your inner athlete.🎙️ See you in the next episode.
What this episode covers
Indian badminton didn’t rise overnight.From Prakash Nath’s heartbreaking All England final in 1947, to Saina Nehwal’s relentless mental discipline, to the historic Thomas Cup victory — this is the real story of Indian badminton.In this episode of The Inner Athlete, we sit down with Abhijit Kulkarni, sports journalist, mentor, and author of The Gopichand Factor, to decode:• How Saina Nehwal and Pullela Gopichand formed a “match made in heaven”• Why Indian badminton lost champions before professionalism arrived• The mental framework behind elite performance• The untapped commercial potential of badminton in India• Why leagues fail but legacy tournaments matter• How grassroots funding can change lives• Why sport is more than medals — it’s social transformationThis is not just a badminton conversation.It’s about systems, mindset, leadership, and legacy.📘 Book discussed: The Gopichand Factor📍 Guest: Abhijit Kulkarni👤 FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Abhijeet KulkarniX: https://x.com/abk6580?s=11&t=bPrhrNkEpZB9aCa0shOT5QFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/abhijeet.kulkarni.167LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhijeet-kulkarni-b064225a?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios🔔 FOLLOW THE INNER ATHLETEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinnerathlete.in/X (Twitter): https://x.com/InnerAthlete_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirpai11/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheInner_AthleteWe’re always looking for insightful voices from the world of sport.If you know someone whose story or expertise deserves a platform on The Inner Athlete, recommend them here:👉 Google Form Link : https://forms.gle/aArYuQujuXDG9kCn8Your recommendation could spark our next impactful conversation.Sport has the power to shape individuals, communities, and nations — but only when we understand it deeply.Thank you for being part of The Inner Athlete journey.Stay curious. Stay active. Keep training your inner athlete.🎙️ See you in the next episode.
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Why Badminton Is India’s Big Sport After Cricket | Abhijeet | EP-02 Samir Pai | The Inner Athlete
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