Prajakta Sawant

Prajakta Sawant (born 28th October, 1992) is a badminton player from India.[1] She was the national women's doubles champion in 2010 and 2011 and also won the mixed doubles title in 2010.[2] In 2013, she won the Bangladesh International tournament partnered with Arathi Sara Sunil.[3]

Prajakta back in action!! This was shot in June 2022 in a tournament which she won mixed doubles. Photography: Sushanto Sarkar

In 2007, at age 14, she made history by becoming the first Indian female to win a gold medal in the Asian Badminton Championship. She achieved this feat alongside Raj Kumar, as they won the Asian Bandminton Championship U-16 mixed doubles title. In 2009, she once again made history by becoming the first Indian female to win a bronze medal in the same tournament, but this time in the U-19 mixed doubles category.

In 2010, when she participated, she was the youngest player on the badminton court. In 2010, Prajakta was selected to be a part of the Indian team for the Asian Games, and she was the youngest badminton player to participate in this prestigious event.

Despite her hustling attitude and successful career, Prajakta has also faced challenges and controversies within the badminton community. Read more about it.