KOCHI: Star shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa, who won the women’s doubles gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, says she is not a fan of badminton’s new 15x3 scoring system, arguing that the diet version strips the sport of the drama and intensity that have made it so riveting. The All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament, which began at Kochi’s Regional Sports Centre on Tuesday, is the first tournament at the domestic circuit to introduce this format to ensure seamless transition for Indian shuttlers. The Badminton World Federation plans a global roll out of the 15x3 scoring system from Jan 2027.In this format, all...

Arnav Vijay Paparkar plays a backhand against Joshua Craze of Great Britain during their Boys' Singles first round match on day six of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 on July 04, 2026 in London, England. (Photo/Getty) Arnav Paparkar took the quieter route. He climbed the ladder one step at a time, starting with lower-level international tournaments in India before moving through the Asian circuit and eventually into the higher levels. The 18-year-old began playing Grand Slam junior events this year, in his final season in the category, and improved with each tournament. On Wednesday, that steady rise reached a landmark moment as Paparkar became the first...