A RACQUET’S SECOND LIFE IS PART OF THE LEGENDS VISION LEGACY TOUR INDIA

A day after inaugurating The Legends’ Vision – Legacy Tour India in the capital, badminton legends Saina Nehwal and Peter Gade concluded a two-day community donation drive across Delhi NCR, engaging fans at select Yonex Sunrise stores to mobilise contributions for ‘A Racquet’s Second Life’. The initiative focuses on collecting pre-loved racquets, refurbishing them, and redistributing them to under-resourced badminton communities with the goal of strengthening access, participation, and sustainability across India’s grassroots ecosystem. 

The India launch of A Racquet’s Second Life yesterday starting with the legends donating their racquets received an enthusiastic response, with young players and families donating racquets throughout the event, marking a strong start to the movement’s India chapter. The store visits followed an electric opening day at the Sirifort DDA Squash and Badminton Complex, where Saina and Peter headlined on-court sessions alongside Legends’ Vision ambassadors Parupalli Kashyap, Aparna Popat, Sayali Gokhale, and Anand Pawar. 

As part of the post-event community outreach, Saina Nehwal and Peter Gade visited multiple Yonex Sunrise partner across the two days, meeting fans, interacting with juniors, and driving in-store racquet donations. On 23rd November, the legends engaged with local badminton communities at two Yonex Pro Shop locations in Siri Fort—one at the Squash & Badminton Stadium and another in the Siri Fort Institutional Area. The activation continued on 24th November with strong community participation at Sports Jam, Gurgaon, Vegas Prime Sports, Gurgaon, and Signature Sports Shoppe, World Street, Faridabad. Across all locations, Saina and Peter urged people to donate their slightly racquets and reinforcing the initiative’s mission to bridge equipment gaps for aspiring young athletes. 

Reflecting on the momentum of the initiative, Saina Nehwal said, “Bringing A Racquet’s Second Life to India is emotional for me. This sport gave me everything and giving back in a way that supports a young player’s first step feels just right. What moved me most was seeing everyday fans walk into stores with old racquets, knowing they were making a difference. It’s simple, it’s meaningful, and it’s something everyone can be part of.” 

Adding his perspective, Peter Gade shared, “For ten years, The Legends’ Vision has been about reimagining the future of badminton. But real change only happens when people participate. Watching fans across Delhi NCR turn up at stores with racquets in hand showed exactly what community-led action looks like. These donations will create real opportunities for young players who need them the most.”

The donation drive reinforced the core ambition of A Racquet’s Second Life by extending the life of equipment while widening access for the next generation.