How to Bet on Badminton - Complete Guide and India Highlights

What will you find in this article?

• What is badminton?
• Historical Milestones of Badminton in India
• India's results at the 2024 Olympic Games
• Major Badminton Competitions in 2025
• How to Bet on Badminton?
• Where to bet?
• Badminton Betting Strategies
• Where to watch live?
• YONEX SUNRISE BWF World Junior Championships 2025
• Conclusion

Badminton, as well as being a sport with a huge fan base in India, is also an excellent option for punters looking for alternative markets to football or cricket. 

After the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, attention is now turning to the most important international and national tournaments. 

In this guide, Betting Academy India shows you how to make smart bets, what the best betting opportunities are, the best bookmakers to bet on badminton, the most interesting markets and winning strategies.

Your badminton bets will be a success!

What is badminton?

Badminton is a sport that involves speed, technique and quick reflexes. 

The simplest explanation for this sport is that it's a racket sport. But there's much more to understand about this magnificent sport. Let's break it down.

The game takes place on a rectangular pitch divided by a net. The shuttlecock must be sent over the net with the aim of landing in the opponent's court. Whoever reaches 21 points first wins the set and the match is decided in a best of 3 sets.

Badminton court

Badminton matches can be played in two main disciplines:

• Singles: one player against another player;
• Doubles: teams of two players against two, including men's, women's and mixed categories.

⚠️ Tip: It's essential to know the basic rules of badminton in order to understand how odds and betting markets work.

Other basic information about badminton:

•  You only score points when you win the game;
•  The service should be done below the waist;
•  The steering wheel must not touch the ground;
•  The badminton racket should be light, with good tension in the strings;
•  The steering wheel can be made of feathers or nylon;
•  The dimensions of the pitch: 13.4m long x 5.18m (singles) or 6.1m (doubles);
•  The net is 1.55 metres high at the ends.

Badminton racket

⚠️ Tip: Players with a specific badminton racket may have an advantage when it comes to control or power.

Historical Milestones of Badminton in India

Did you know that modern badminton has its roots in the Indian game called "Poona"? But it was the British in the 19th century who formalised the game as we know it today. Perhaps that's why badminton is so popular in India.

With a history full of achievements, Indian badminton has made and continues to make a mark on the international scene. Let's take a look back at the most memorable moments.

- Olympic medals

• Saina Nehwal: India's first Olympic medallist in badminton, with a bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

• P. V. Sindhu: The only Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals in badminton - silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020.

Saina Nehwal’s London Olympic bronze medal

- World Championships

• P. V. Sindhu: The only Indian to win the badminton world title, with a total of five medals at the World Championships.

• Saina Nehwal: Two medals at the World Championships, including a silver in 2015.

Recall the moment Sindhu became world champion

- Super Series and World Rankings

• Prakash Padukone: The first Indian to win the All England Open in 1980, one of the most prestigious tournaments in badminton.

• Saina Nehwal: The first Indian woman to reach the top of the world rankings in 2015. 

• Kidambi Srikanth: First Indian to win four Super Series titles in a single year (2017) and reach number 1 in the world rankings in 2018.

 Prakash Padukone said that after All England Open victory "Indian badminton came to be recognised as a force to reckon with".

- Outstanding Doubles

• Chirag Shetty & Satwiksairaj Rankireddy: First Indian pair to reach number 1 in the men's doubles world ranking.

India's results at the 2024 Olympic Games

The performance of Indian athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games had its ups and downs.

- Lakshya Sen made history 

Lakshya Sen became the first Indian man to reach an Olympic semi-final in badminton.

After beating Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) in the group stage and Chou Tien Chen (Taiwan) in the quarter-finals, he faced Denmark's Viktor Axelsen in the semi-finals, losing 22-20, 21-14.

In the fight for the bronze medal, Sen was beaten by Lee Zii Jia (Malaysia) in three sets: 13-21, 21-16, 21-11, finishing in 4th place - the best result ever for an Indian male player at the Olympic Games.

Lakshya Sen at Paris 2024

- PV Sindhu and the end of the dream of becoming three-time champions

Two-time Olympic champion PV Sindhu easily made it through the group stage and into the last 16.

In the round of 16, she was beaten 21-19 and 21-14 by China's He Bing Jiao, ending her medal-less journey in Paris.

- Satwik/Chirag: hopes for the men's doubles

The pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their group matches against France and Indonesia.

In the quarter-finals, they lost to Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik from Malaysia, 21-13, 14-21, 16-21.

Just missed out on a medal, but they reinforced their status as one of the best doubles teams in the world.

Satwik/Chirag at Paris 2024

- Olympic debut for Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa 

The women's duo of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa didn't make it beyond the group stage.

The athletes suffered defeats against the teams from South Korea, Japan and Australia, but qualification for the Games was an important milestone in itself.

- HS Prannoy made a remarkable effort

HS Prannoy won his group matches but was knocked out in the last 16 by compatriot Lakshya Sen.

Prannoy faced several health problems in the months leading up to the Games, which limited his performance at the Games.

- Final Balance and Prospects for the Future

Although India didn't win any medals in badminton at Paris 2024, the performances of athletes like Lakshya Sen and Satwik/Chirag show enormous potential.

The current generation has shown talent and ambition, which promises good results in upcoming international tournaments and at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

There's also a lot of anticipation for the 2025 Junior World Cup, which will take place in India.

Major Badminton Competitions in 2025

Badminton is a sport with high-level tournaments that bring together the best national and world athletes on prestigious stages. Find out about this year's main badminton competitions.

- International

Throughout the year, international competitions play a central role in the sport's calendar, contributing to the world rankings and promoting a competitive spirit between nations. Here are the main international badminton events in 2025:

BWF World Championships

The World Championships are one of the most important tournaments on the international calendar. They comprise five categories: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. First held in 1977, it has been held every two years since 1983.

All England Open

Founded in 1899 by the Badminton Association of England, it is the oldest tournament in the history of badminton. Initially restricted to players from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, today it is a prestigious global competition.

All England Open 2024 winner: Jonatan Christie from Indonesia

BWF World Tour Finals

At the end of the BWF World Tour season, the eight best male, female and doubles players, with a maximum of two representatives per country, compete in an elite tournament that crowns the champions of the annual circuit.

Sudirman Cup (mixed teams)

The Sudirman Cup is an international mixed team competition contested by the member countries of the Badminton World Federation. The competition has been held in odd-numbered years since 1989. 

Thomas Cup

The Thomas Cup is the World Badminton Men's Team Championship. The first competition was held in 1948. It is currently held every two years, in even-numbered years.

Thomas Cup 2024 winners from China

Uber Cup (women)

The women's version of the Thomas Cup, the Uber Cup is the most prestigious event for women's badminton teams, with a long tradition and strong competitiveness.

The Women's World Team Badminton Championships have been held every two years, in odd-numbered years, since 1956.

The International Series Grand Prix

Inspired by the tennis Grand Prix model, this series of tournaments was launched in 1983 by the International Badminton Federation. The competitions are divided into geographical zones and, based on the results, the 16 best athletes qualify for the final stage of the competition.

- Tournaments in India

Find out about the main badminton events taking place in India:

India Open (Super 750)

The India Open, officially known as the Yonex Sunrise India Open for sponsorship reasons, is one of the most important tournaments in Asia, with the best players in the world taking part. It is part of the BWF circuit and has been held since 1973. 

In 2025, the badminton tournament took place at the K. D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, India, from 14 to 19 January 2025. Participants competed for prizes of up to 950,000 dollars.

Syed Modi International

The Syed Modi International Badminton Championships is an international badminton tournament held annually in Lucknow, India. It was introduced to the badminton circuit as a BWF Grand Prix event in 2009.

PV Sindhu gold medal at Syed Modi

Regional and state tournaments with great local involvement

Regional badminton tournaments in India are organised by the Badminton Association of India and state associations such as the Gujarat Badminton Association. These tournaments range from grassroots level events to national championships, offering opportunities to players of all skill levels.

⚠️ Tip: Indian players often perform better at home and in Asian tournaments.

How to Bet on Badminton?

Now that you've got a good idea of the sport, you'll see that betting on badminton can be simple, fun and with lots of winning opportunities.

With various types of bets available, this is a sport with great potential for attentive punters.

- Types of bets available

Like other sports, in badminton you can find different ways to bet, adapted to your profile and strategy:

•  Pre-match betting - Make your prediction before the start of the match. Ideal for those who analyse player statistics and history.
•  Live betting - Betting during the match, depending on the performance of the players in real time.
•  Long-term bets - Bets on the future, for example on who will win a tournament, reach the podium or qualify for a certain stage.

- Markets in the spotlight

These are the most common and attractive betting markets in badminton:

•  Game Winner (Moneyline) - Simple bet on who wins.
•  Total Sets or Points (Over/Under) - Ex: over 2.5 sets, or over 45.5 points.
•  Set or Points Handicap - Assigns an advantage or disadvantage to one of the players.

- Value bets

To bet successfully on badminton, it's essential to have a good understanding of the markets and a good reading of the matches.

Here are some tips on where you can find value in betting:

⚠️ Matches between promising youngsters (less well known, less adjusted odds)
⚠️ Doubles betting (less explored market)
⚠️ Betting on Asian tournaments (knowing the ranking)

Football betting? Follow today's matches at the Academy

Where to bet?

Don't know where to place your badminton bets? That's okay, we'll show you the best bookmakers for this sport:

•  1xBet 
•  Stake 
•  Parimatch 
•  Megapari 

These bookmakers offer:

• Live broadcasts;
• Various markets;
• Promotions and welcome bonuses;
• Real-time statistics and data.

Check out the reviews of the best bookmakers in our Academy.

Badminton Betting Strategies

It's time to give you some strategies for your badminton betting.

Successful betting on badminton goes far beyond picking a favourite. The sport requires careful analysis of several factors.

Below, we explore the main elements you should consider before betting.

- Study the players' current form

Look at the players' latest results. Their most recent performance is one of the best indicators of whether or not they are in good shape. What's more, an athlete with several consecutive victories is more confident, while someone coming off injuries or defeats may show physical or mental weaknesses.

⚠️ Tip: Check the results of the last 3 to 5 matches to assess the player's consistency.

- Head-to-head record

It analyses the history of head-to-head matches. A player with a lower rating may have achieved good results against a player considered superior. Some players are better against certain opponents because of their style of play or previous experience. 

⚠️ Tip: Check whether the underdog has beaten the favourite in previous meetings.

- Site conditions and type of surface

The playing environment can have a direct impact on players' performance. High altitude, humidity, temperature or the type of surface influence the style and wear and tear of the players.

⚠️ Tip: In high-altitude locations, players who are used to training in these conditions have an advantage in terms of endurance and adaptation.

- Type of tournament 

In smaller tournaments or those that count for less in the rankings, it's common for top players to be less motivated, while lesser-ranked players try to take advantage of the opportunity to make a name for themselves. This leads to surprises and potentially more interesting odds.

⚠️ Tip: Analyse the importance of the tournament in the player's calendar, because he may be saving up for a bigger competition.

- Style of play (aggressive vs defensive)

A match between different playing styles can favour or disadvantage a player, even if the ranking says otherwise. Aggressive players control the pace but are more prone to mistakes; defensive players wear down their opponents but can miss attacking opportunities.

⚠️ Tip: Observe previous matches and the style of the players, and how that style works under continuous pressure.

- Ranking and Progression

It's important to look at the world ranking, but it shouldn't be seen in isolation. A player on the rise, who has shown great improvement in recent weeks, can be more dangerous than a top 10 player in a bad phase.

⚠️ Tip: Combine the analysis of ranking position with the athletes' recent results.

Watch Pusarla V. Sindhu (IND) vs. Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) at KAPAL API Indonesia Open 2025

Where to watch live?

If you want to follow the main badminton tournaments live, there are several options available, both on television channels and via online streaming platforms.

Here are the main alternatives:

•  Best bookmakers with streaming
•  BWF TV - YouTube channel
•  Star Sports
•  Eurosport India
•  DD Sports
•  Sony Sports Network's TV channels
•  Mobile applications such as JioCinema, JioHotstar and SonyLive

YONEX SUNRISE BWF World Junior Championships 2025

The BWF 2025 World Junior Badminton Championships, which will take place from 6 to 12 October in Guwahati, India, promise to be a historic and landmark edition for the future of badminton.

Organised jointly by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Association of India (BAI), this event will be the stage for important innovations, with the aim of modernising and boosting the sport.

- New Team Relay System

The mixed team competition sees the debut of an elaborate relay system. The best of three sets is played to 45 points, and in each set there are five team transitions: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. This approach, already trialled in 2024 in China, has received very positive feedback and will now be implemented in Guwahati.

- 3x15 scoring system

In the individual competition, the BWF will be trialling a new scoring system of three sets to 15 points (3x15). The aim is to make the matches more intense, faster and more appealing to both the players and the general public. 

Venue of the tournament: National Centre of Excellence, in Guwahati.
 

Conclusion

Indian badminton is experiencing one of its best moments, and this is reflected in sports betting. With top athletes, an interesting tournament calendar and bookmakers offering more and more markets, 2025 is the ideal year to explore this sport.

Bet responsibly, use intelligent strategies and follow the big events in world and Indian badminton.

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