Do India’s badminton stars deserve more recognition after Thomas Cup bronze?

Do India’s badminton stars deserve more recognition after Thomas Cup bronze?

Author: The Hindu May 12, 2026 Duration: 39:38
Former India coach and Olympian U. Vimal Kumar joins the podcast to discuss India’s Thomas Cup campaign, player recognition, squad depth concerns and badminton’s new scoring system. India returned from the Thomas Cup in Denmark with a bronze medal, its second podium finish in the last three editions of badminton’s premier men’s team event. But despite another strong campaign on the world stage, the achievement received surprisingly little attention back home, prompting sharp reactions from players about the lack of recognition for their sporting achievements in India.In this episode of In Focus, we look into India’s Thomas Cup run, the rise of young talent like Ayush Shetty, concerns over squad depth in singles and doubles, and the controversy surrounding the semifinal match order against France. We also discuss the Badminton World Federation’s decision to introduce the new 15-point scoring system from 2027 and whether it is actually good for the sport. Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Producer: Shiksha Jural Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each week, the journalists at In Focus by The Hindu select one pressing story from the news cycle and slow it down. Rather than a rapid headline, you’ll hear a thoughtful conversation that unpacks the layers behind an event-the historical precedents, the economic forces, the political nuances, and the human impact. This podcast relies on conversations with reporters who have been on the ground and specialists who have spent years, sometimes decades, studying a particular issue. The result is a clearer, more substantive understanding of what’s happening in India and around the world. You might explore the roots of a regional conflict one episode, and dive into the complexities of a new environmental policy the next. It’s designed for anyone who feels that the daily news skim leaves too many questions unanswered. Tune in for a consistent, deep-dive format that prioritizes context over instant reaction, making sense of the week’s most significant developments through careful analysis and expert insight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

In Focus by The Hindu
Podcast Episodes
In Focus-Parley | Has a weakening of unionisation hurt workers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:18
Since March, the country has witnessed a number of agitations by workers, particularly by those in manufacturing sector. In the background of these protests for minimum wages, for expansion of social security ambit and a…
How to make India's metro systems serve our cities better? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:09
India now operates the third-largest metro network in the world by length. But can scale alone make a transit system transformative? This episode explores whether the metros across 26 cities are being built to serve the…
How will 'Indian Ozempics' change treatment for diabetes and obesity? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:46
On March 20 this year, the patent for semaglutide, which is the active ingredient of blockbuster drug Ozempic, expired in India. The country was ready: nearly 40 generics are either in the market now or will be out soon.…
Can a cancer therapy help treat autoimmune diseases? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:21
CAR-T cell therapy, a breakthrough treatment that has transformed certain cancer outcomes, is now showing early promise in tackling autoimmune diseases. In a recent case in Germany, a patient with multiple severe autoimm…
As polls near, how is Tamil Nadu's economy doing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:36
Tamil Nadu is often seen as one of India’s strongest economic performers, recording 7.4% growth in 2025-26, with manufacturing registering real growth rate of 14.74% in 2024-25, well above the national average. Real grow…
Israel-Lebanon 10-day ceasefire: Will it hold? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:16
As 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect from midnight of April 16, 2026. The truce, announced by US President Donald Trump, could offer some relief to Lebanese civilians who have been facing relen…
US-Iran war: Why did the Islamabad peace talks fail? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:45
The Islamabad peace talks between the US and Iran failed to yield a peace deal after 21 hours of negotiations. Both the sides have blamed each other for the failure. What exactly were the sticking points? What does the d…