Syed Modi

Who was Syed Modi?

Syed Modi was an Indian badminton player, and an eight-time National Badminton champion. He won the Austrian International in 1983 and 1984 and 1982 Commonwealth Games, Men's singles title. His play displayed a mix of stylist Suresh Goel, of whom he was a protégé, and the effectiveness of Prakash Padukone, whom he succeed as a National Champion.

Modi was murdered on 28 July 1988 in Lucknow as he came out of the K. D. Singh Babu Stadium after a practice session. After his death, a badminton tournament was constituted in his memory, "Syed Modi Memorial", All India Syed Modi badminton championship hosted each year at Lucknow, which turned into "Syed Modi International Challenge" in 2004, and starting December 2009 it would turn into "Syed Modi Grand Prix", organized by Badminton Association of India. The Railways of which he was an employee, opened the Syed Modi Railway stadium and auditorium at his native place, Gorakhpur.