IBL: Youngsters to catch the eye

Hyderabad Hotshots player Ajay Jayaram. (Getty Images)

Ajay Jayaram

Jayaram’s biggest problem has been his lack of consistency. The Bangalore-based shuttler is an intelligent sort of player and has a nice mix of abilities, but frequently fails to execute the basics, and tends to get erratic.

Jayaram began the IBL with a characteristically erratic performance against Srikanth, but his form did not desert him. He was sublime in his straight-sets destruction of Tien Minh at Mumbai, and he did trouble Lee Chong Wei at Pune.

About the only sore point was his listless performance against Jan O Jorgensen in the final league game against Banga Beats, but the next day, he again turned on the show against Tien Minh in the semi-final against Pune Pistons.

If he can maintain that level, he can break into the top-ten. Time will tell if the IBL will mark a turning point in his self-confidence.

About the author

Dev S Sukumar is the recipient of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Media Award, 2011. He is India's most widely travelled badminton writer, having covered several international tournaments, including the Olympics, the Asian Games, the CWG Games, World Championships, the All England, the Denmark Open, the Malaysia Open, etc. He has covered badminton for over ten years now. During this period he has met fascinating characters, witnessed great matches, and has authored a biography of Indian badminton great Prakash Padukone. He has written on the game for several publications, including Sports Illustrated, Mint, Badminton Asia magazine, The New Indian Express, Hindustan Times, DNA and IANS.
He tweets at twitter.com/shuttlemania

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Edited by Staff Editor