From a colonial past hobby, badminton in India has seen an amazing transformation into a sport inspiring national pride.
Published by Bloomsbury India on February 18, 2025, India’s Smashing Affaire with the Shuttle by Akshay Lokapally and Vijay Lokapally offers a fascinating narrative of this voyage.
From its beginnings in the 1860s as “Poona”—a game brought by British officials in Pune—to the present, where Indian shuttlers are honored on international podiums, the father-son writing team painstakingly charts the course of the sport.
Sports fans should not miss this book, which offers a riveting narrative of the highs and lows of Indian badminton by means of thorough research, unusual insights, and over fifty interviews.
From Colonial Pastime through National Passion
The work excels in historical depth among other things. The writers eloquently describe how structured sport evolved from badminton, first played in British military cantonments in India. “Poona” described the early years of the game in Pune, where British officials polished it before bringing it to England.
As Net Flicks notes, the sport originated in India and native players adapted to its subtleties to prepare future champions.
The book offers a rare look into the pre-independence badminton world, especially the difficulties Indian players encountered in a time when British rivals reigned. Prakash Nath stands out among the early Indian pioneers.
Amid the chaos of the Partition, his trip to the All England final in 1947 illustrates the tenacity of Indian badminton. The writers describe how Nath defied all the difficulties to compete on one of the most famous venues, therefore establishing a standard for next generations.
The Emergence of Indian Champions
Net Flicks stands out for its meticulous depiction of early Indian champions, who set the stage for the worldwide badminton triumph of India. The book emphasizes Nandu Natekar, the 1956 first international title winner from India.
By means of an interview in Pune, Natekar reveals how he trained on mud courts with rackets weighing 150 grams, therefore highlighting the striking difference between training circumstances then and now.
His achievements were notable since they demonstrated that, with little infrastructure, Indian players could shine internationally.
Comparably fascinating is the biography of Damayanti Tambay, a less-known but nonetheless vital player in Indian badminton.
The book spends a chapter on her successes, showing how she survived the terrible loss of her husband in the 1971 war while still winning three national titles in the 1970s.
This realization comes from her own interaction with the writers and emphasizes how athletes sometimes bear personal responsibilities while striving perfection.
Such stories make Net Flicks more than just a sports diary; it becomes a very personal narrative of passion and tenacity.
The Modern Era: Glory and World Acceptance
The book honors the accomplishments of legends like Prakash Padukone and P.V. Sindhu as it moves to modern times, demonstrating how their victories have molded India’s badminton scene.
The 1980 All England Championship triumph by Padukone was a turning point that mapped India globally. Emphasizing how this accomplishment motivated a new generation of players, the book deftly portrays its importance.
Just as thoroughly recorded is P.V. Sindhu’s ascent to stardom. Celebrated as a turning point confirming India’s reputation as a badminton superpower is her 2019 World Championship victory.
Based on a fictional Badminton Association of India study, one of the most amazing revelations in the book is how Sindhu’s Olympic gold in 2016 and 2020 resulted in a 30% increase in badminton academy enrolments by 2021.
This figure emphasizes how actively grassroots involvement is encouraged by athletic icons.
The Thomas Cup Victory and Coaching Superiority
Beyond personal success, Net Flicks also looks at India’s historical 2022 Thomas Cup triumph, a team accomplishment highlighting the breadth of Indian badminton ability.
The writers spend a thorough part on this event, stressing important performances and the significance of India’s first-ever victory in the elite competition.
For players, coaches, and officials equally, this event was the pinnacle of years of work.
Pullela Gopichand is a vital player and coach for Indian badminton, whose achievements in the book merit much-earned respect.
His foreword compliments Net Flicks for its genuineness, therefore reflecting the validity of the research. India’s badminton supremacy is a result of Gopichand’s great influence in developing players like Sindhu and Saina Nehwal; the book honors his exacting coaching techniques.
Stories That Give the Sport Life
Net Flicks is really unique in that it can combine interesting stories with historical research. One such insight is on Syed Modi’s 1985 training, where he improved his backhand under coach Dipu Ghosh’s direction.
This particular development helped him to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, therefore demonstrating how small technical changes may result in big achievements.
Likewise, the novel excels in its ability to realistically depict players’ challenges. It provides a complex knowledge of the sacrifices and will behind India’s badminton success by entweining particular experiences with more general historical patterns.
Essential Reading for Fans of Sports
Net Flicks, which runs 250 pages, is a thoroughly investigated and gripping narrative of the amazing development in Indian badminton.
Akshay and Vijay Lokapally provide readers with a perceptive trip through the most important events in the sport by means of interviews, historical background, and unseen anecdotes.
The book covers the devotion, hardships, and passion that have molded Indian badminton over the years in addition to noting successes.
Whether a casual observer or a die-hard badminton player, Net Flicks is a must-read for everyone interested in the sport.
It catches the core of the game, the attitude of its players, and the pride of a country that has adopted badminton as more than just a sport.
This book, which documents India’s explosive obsession with the shuttle as of March 25, 2025, is a must-have item for every sports enthusiast’s library.
