Key points
- PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen won the women's and men's singles titles respectively at the Hylo Open in Saarbrücken, Germany, on November 1, 2026.
- The Indian contingent's European swing covered four tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany, beginning with the Arctic Open on October 6.
- The Indian Express reported that the Sports Authority of India did not release funding for the tour; players were informed shortly before the Finland event.
- Sindhu said she was shocked by the funding situation and managed some expenses herself, with additional help from Olympic Gold Quest.
- Some Indian players competed without coaches, while six players withdrew from the Denmark Open, seven from the French Open and nine from the Hylo Open, according to the reports.
- SAI's explanation, as reported by multiple outlets, was that the Badminton Association of India had not submitted the required proposal with player names within the 30-day deadline; the agency said future tournament fund
PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen returned from India's European badminton campaign with Hylo Open singles titles, but the success came against the backdrop of a funding dispute that left several Indian players arranging their own finances. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) did not release funding for the four-tournament swing across Finland, Denmark, France and Germany, according to reports published on November 3.
Sindhu and Sen won the women's and men's singles titles respectively at the Hylo Open in Saarbrücken on November 1. The Indian Express reported that players were informed only days before the Arctic Open began in Vantaa on October 6 that the expected support would not be available. Sindhu said she was surprised by the development and relied partly on her own resources and assistance from Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ).
Players faced a funding gap during the European swing
The tour included four consecutive events: the Arctic Open in Finland, the Denmark Open, the French Open and the Hylo Open in Germany. The funding shortfall meant players had to manage travel, food and accommodation expenses for much of the trip. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) was reported to have offered accommodation support for the opening event in Finland, while players were expected to cover costs for the remaining tournaments.
“When I got to know, I was a bit shocked and wondered how the funding hadn’t gone through. I hadn’t faced something like that before,” Sindhu told The Indian Express. She said she could not simply decide against playing and instead focused on her matches. She added that she managed some of the funding herself and that OGQ also helped her.
The financial pressure also affected coaching support. During the French Open, Ashmita Chaliha beat world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi with fellow Indian Isharani Baruah in her corner. Tanvi Sharma, who reached the Denmark Open quarterfinals, also competed in a match without a coach. Reports said players could not always afford the extra costs of bringing their coaching teams while paying their own travel and living expenses.
Participation numbers changed as the tour progressed. Twenty-six Indian players competed at the Arctic Open without withdrawals. Six players then pulled out of the Denmark Open, seven from the French Open and nine from the Hylo Open, according to The Indian Express. The reports linked the withdrawals to the financial uncertainty, though they did not establish that every withdrawal was caused solely by the funding issue.
SAI and BAI explanations differ on the administrative delay
The reason the funds were not released has become a point of dispute. The Indian Express cited officials who believed the decision could be linked to India's performance at the 2026 Asian Games, where the badminton team had a below-par campaign and did not win an individual medal. That explanation was presented as the view of officials and not as an established reason for the funding decision.
A senior SAI official, as quoted in reports, denied that the funding decision was connected to Asian Games performance. The official said the required proposal, including the names of participating players, had not reached SAI within the stipulated 30-day window. Hindustan Times also reported that BAI's itinerary submission was delayed and that SAI had sought additional details before processing the request. BAI did not offer a comment to the outlets cited in the reports.
SAI's reported position was that funding for upcoming tournaments would be restored, but players would not receive reimbursement for the expenses they had already incurred during the European campaign. The disagreement therefore concerns both the timing of the submission and the process for clearing tournament participation after the annual calendar had been approved.
Indian players delivered results despite the uncertainty
The funding issue unfolded alongside a productive run of results. Sindhu reached the final of the French Open before winning the Hylo Open. Her title in Germany was her second of the year and, according to The Indian Express, marked her first calendar year since 2017 with two BWF World Tour titles at Super 500 level or above. The result also helped her return to No. 6 in the world rankings and strengthened her prospects of qualifying for the season-ending World Tour Finals.
Lakshya Sen's Hylo Open victory ended a year-long wait for a title. Ashmita Chaliha's win over Yamaguchi and Anmol Kharb's run to the Hylo Open semifinals were other notable Indian performances during the swing. Those results underlined the depth of the squad, even as the lack of consistent logistical support affected players' preparation and tournament participation.
Sindhu said the funding problem did not change her immediate approach to competition. Her comments also highlighted the difference between established players, who may have sponsors or personal support, and younger athletes who depend more heavily on federation and government assistance. She said the situation should not stop players from focusing on improvement, while also pointing to the difficulties faced by the next generation.
Why the funding issue matters beyond two titles
The European swing has raised questions about how tournament participation is funded and how administrative deadlines are handled when player entries and qualifying information are confirmed close to an event. The reported 30-day requirement is intended to give authorities time to review travel and participation plans. But the episode shows how a delay or disagreement in that process can affect coaching arrangements, withdrawals and the ability of developing players to compete.
For Sindhu and Sen, the Hylo Open titles provided a strong sporting finish to the tour. For the wider Indian team, the episode has left a more complicated question: how can the system ensure that promising players receive reliable support, rather than having their participation depend on whether they can personally bridge a funding gap? The reports indicate that future support is expected to resume, but the expenses from this European campaign will remain with the players.
Frequently asked questions
Why did PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen have to fund their European badminton tour?
Reports said the Sports Authority of India did not release funding for India's four-tournament European campaign. SAI's explanation, as reported by several outlets, was that the Badminton Association of India had not submitted the required proposal with player names within the 30-day deadline. BAI did not provide a public comment in the reports.
What did PV Sindhu say about the funding issue?
Sindhu told The Indian Express she was shocked when she learned the funding had not gone through. She said she managed some of the expenses herself and received help from Olympic Gold Quest, while keeping her focus on competing and improving her performances.
Which tournaments were part of India's European badminton swing?
The campaign covered four tournaments in Finland, Denmark, France and Germany. It began with the Arctic Open in Vantaa on October 6 and continued through the Denmark Open, French Open and Hylo Open, where Sindhu and Lakshya Sen won the singles titles.
How did the funding problem affect other Indian badminton players?
Reports said some players travelled without their coaches because they could not cover the additional costs. Ashmita Chaliha had fellow player Isharani Baruah in her corner during her French Open win over Akane Yamaguchi, while Tanvi Sharma also played a match in Denmark without a coach.
Will Indian badminton players be reimbursed for the European tour expenses?
The Indian Express reported that SAI said funding for upcoming tournaments would be restored, but players would not be reimbursed for expenses incurred during the four-week European campaign. The funding dispute was attributed to an administrative approval process and a missed proposal deadline.