ISG Discussion Group

Handball in India is a fast-paced team sport played by two teams of seven players each (six outfield players and one goalkeeper), aiming to throw a ball into the opponent's goal while preventing the other team from doing the same. The game is played on a 40x20 meter court, with matches consisting of two 30-minute halves. Introduced in the early 1970s by Jagat Singh Chauhan, an alumnus of the YMCA College of Physical Education in Madras (now Chennai), the sport has grown steadily. The Handball Association of India (HAI), formerly the Handball Federation of India (HFI), governs the sport and is affiliated with the Asian Handball Federation (AHF) and International Handball Federation (IHF). Founded in 1971 in Rohtak, Haryana, HAI oversees 43 member units, over 4,500 registered players, and nearly 400 officials.

Indian badminton has grown tremendously over the past two decades, evolving from a niche sport to a powerhouse on the global stage. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) governs the sport, organizing national tournaments and supporting international participation. India has produced world-class players who have won Olympic medals, World Championships, and major BWF titles. The sport's popularity surged with stars like Saina Nehwal (first Indian to win an Olympic badminton medal in 2012) and PV Sindhu (back-to-back Olympic medals in 2016 and 2020). Men's singles has seen talents like Kidambi Srikanth (former World No. 1) and HS Prannoy, while doubles pairs like Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have dominated recent years, including a historic Thomas Cup win for India in 2022.

Badminton traces its roots to ancient games like battledore and shuttlecock, evolving in 19th-century British India into its modern form, with formalized rules by 1877 and Olympic status since 1992. It blends accessibility with high-intensity play, making it suitable for all ages.

With an estimated 709 million fans worldwide, badminton ranks as the third most followed sport after football and basketball, boasting around 220 million regular players, predominantly in Asia. Research suggests it may surge in popularity among younger demographics like Gen Z, driven by its low barriers to entry and health perks.

Dominated by Asian nations like China and Indonesia, with stars like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei setting records. While thrilling, the sport faces critiques for limited global diversity and occasional scoring debates to enhance excitement.

From 7th February 2026 Men's T20 World Cup will start with 20 teams across the globe . While 4 groups will be there consisting of 5 teams in each group . Pakistan will take on Netherland on the very first match in Colombo , while arch rivals India will take on Pakistan on 15th February 2026 . As a defending champion , everybody will have focus on team India's performance 🏏