Peter Gade joins Saina Nehwal to promote badminton initiative in India

Saina Nehwal and Peter Gade headlined the opening of The Legends’ Vision – Legacy Tour India at Delhi’s Sirifort Complex. The event launched A Racquet’s Second Life, inspiring juniors and promoting badminton’s growth through legacy, youth and community-driven initiatives

Hyderabad: Delhi witnessed a landmark moment for Indian badminton today as Saina Nehwal and Peter Gade took centre court at the Sirifort DDA Squash and Badminton Complex, igniting the opening day of The Legends’ Vision – Legacy Tour India.

A spirited convergence of legacy, youth and purpose reminded everyone how powerful the sport becomes when its greatest champions stand shoulder to shoulder with its youngest dreamers.

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Legends’ Vision Ambassadors Parupalli Kashyap, Anand Pawar, Aparna Popat and Sayali Gokhale also took the court along with the legends and juniors in fun-filled sessions where the legends teamed up with the ambassadors and young players in a variety of matches.

A central moment of the afternoon was the India launch of A Racquet’s Second Life. As the donation box set up by Yonex filled with pre-loved racquets from fans and young players, the initiative’s meaning became tangible — the idea that something as simple as a racquet can travel further, last longer and carry the dream of a child taking their first shot at badminton.

The on-court sessions were the heartbeat of the day. Juniors had the rare chance to rally with Saina and Peter, as the legends slowed down rallies, shared tips, corrected grips and, at times, simply let the kids soak in the experience. It was a masterclass woven with smiles, applause and small breakthroughs — the kind young athletes remember for a lifetime.

Saina Nehwal said: “It feels incredibly special to bring A Racquet’s Second Life home to India. This country gave me my start — the coaches, the fans, the support system that helped me become who I am. So, to now be in a position to give something back feels deeply meaningful. What I love about this initiative is that it’s not only about professionals or big academies, it’s about everyone. Every fan, every player, can take part by simply donating a racquet. That one small action can open the door for a young player who might otherwise never get the chance to play. My message to the fans is simple: your racquet can change a life. Be part of that story.”

Peter Gade shared: “From the beginning, The Legends’ Vision has been about inspiring the world to see badminton differently — to think bigger than tournaments and trophies. Over the past ten years we’ve seen awareness grow everywhere, but awareness only truly matters when it leads to action. That’s why this step, here in India, is so important. A Racquet’s Second Life turns a global mission into something very real — equipment in the hands of kids, communities getting access, lives changing. And to see Saina leading in her home country makes it even more powerful. It’s the perfect example of what we hoped The Legends’ Vision would become — players driving change within their own communities.”

As the session drew to a close, juniors gathered around the two legends for a final rally and to capture moments that will be etched in their minds forever — a fitting visual of what the day was about: a legacy passing directly into the hands of the next generation.