India, Aug. 17 -- From the legendary Prakash Padukone to the late Syed Modi, the venue for the BWF World Championships here carries a rich legacy of Indian badminton. Back in the day, the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, then known as the Indraprastha Indoor Stadium, was the country's only air-conditioned venue for badminton and witnessed some of the sport's most memorable moments.

The 1982 Asian Games was one such occasion. Modi won a singles bronze, India's first individual badminton medal at the Asian Games, after a fantastic run that included a clash with Indonesian legend Liem Swie King. Though Modi lost that closely fought match, his bronze marked a significant moment for Indian badminton. India went on to win five bronze medals in 19...