Kidambi Srikanth first burst into the limelight at the age of 18 when he won the Junior Men’s Singles and Doubles titles at the All India Junior Badminton Championships in Pune. In 5 years time, the Guntur-born player has made rapid strides and is now ranked 10th in the world with 7 titles, that includes a Superseries Premier, a Superseries, 3 Grand Prix Golds and an International Series title to his credit.
Such performances and more have also meant that the fan base for Indian badminton has also risen considerably and acknowledging the increasing in the support, the 23-year-old feels that the sport has come a long way since he started out.
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“The sport has definitely gained more popularity in India over the last five years. We have more Singles and Doubles players in the top 25 in the world now.
We are slowly chipping away at the Chinese dominance on the sport. We recently, even beat their Men’s team at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, which is a first for Indian badminton. Currently, we have reached a level where there are several players in the top 50, and we also have a strong pipeline of young talented players who have the drive and the potential to make it big in the sport. With the PBL there is a lot of corporate support and interest in the sport as well.
So, overall, I feel that Indian badminton has come a long way from where it was 5 years ago,” Srikanth told Sportskeeda in an interview via mail.
The year 2016 assumes extra significance for the Indian as in a few months time, he would be heading to Rio De Janerio to compete in his maiden Olympic Games. Srikanth felt that with just under 4 months to go for the gala event, there weren't any specific areas where he needed improvement and added that he would give it his all in August.
“There is no specific area that I am focusing on. I am working on improving my overall game. At this point, I am taking it one match at a time. There is no specific memory linked to the Olympics. But, as Indians, we have all grown up believing that the Olympics are the biggest event in sport and every sportsperson dreams of winning a medal there. It would be an honour to represent India at the Olympics, and I will give it my all,” he said.
Srikanth had a good start to 2016, when he clinched the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold in Lucknow, after falling in the final hurdle twice in 2014 and 2013. The shuttler hoped to carry that momentum forward and added that it was a satisfying experience to win in front of home fans.
“I was third time lucky! Winning in front of the home crowd is always a very fulfilling experience. This is an especially sweet victory for me since I had made it to the finals here for two consecutive years and missed out on winning the title very narrowly on both the occasions,” he said.
If sustained, the PBL could bring a lot more spectators: Srikanth
Prior to that, however, he represented the Bengaluru TopGuns in the Premier Badminton League and speaking about the experience, Srikanth said it was a good experience and it allowed them to connect with fans and added if it could be sustained for a longer time, then it could surely bring a lot of people closer to the sport.
“Through the PBL, we got to play in different parts of India and connect with a lot of our fans. Overall, it was a really good experience and a nice start to the year. This league has helped in bringing down a lot of top players to India and giving badminton fans a chance to watch top-notch action live in the stadium.
It is a great opportunity for young players to gain exposure and prove their mettle. It gives them an opportunity to compete alongside top players, and get acclimatised to playing in front of big crowds. If this league is sustained, it can help promote the sport in a big way by taking the sport closer to the people and bringing in big sponsors as well,” the 23-year-old said.
Earlier this year, the Badminton Association of India(BAI) hired a psychologist by the name of Mridu Sharma and when asked about the importance of the mental aspect of the game, the shuttler said that getting a chance to work with someone on the mental aspect of the sport at a young age would be of great help.
“In any sport, the battle is as much mental as it is physical; you have to be mentally very tough to take on the challenge at the highest levels. The ability to think clearly and strategize in crucial moments can make all the difference at the highest levels where there is very little difference between players, in terms of skills and ability.
Getting access to mental training as part of your regular training from a young age can help players immensely,” he said.
Srikanth also credited the role played by the non-profit organisation GoSports Foundation in his success.
“GoSports Foundation has supported me from the time I was a 19-year-old finding my way on the senior circuit. Their support has helped me concentrate solely on my game as I knew I could depend on them to take care of other things.
From funding my first international tournament in Maldives, to helping me gain access to a dedicated physiotherapist, their support has kept pace with my needs as a player. They work with a lot of athletes across different sports, but they have also taken care of my individual needs. Through the Foundation, I have also had access to mentorship session with Rahul Dravid which has helped me immensely,” he concluded.
