Doubles specialist Sumeeth Reddy ventures into coaching, to launch badminton academy next month

B Sumeeth Reddy is all set for his foray into coaching. The doubles specialist will formally launch his Indian Badminton Academy (IBA) in Manikonda, near Hyderabad, in the first week of July.

After a more than decade-long stint as a trainee at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Sumeeth Reddy will now also try his hand at coaching and providing a platform for talented, young shuttlers.

Sumeeth Reddy, who represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics along with his long-time partner Manu Attri, understands that nobody can match the standards set by the Gopichand Academy. However, he hopes IBA can play the role of a feeder center for the Gopichand Academy.

“I love to portray my patriotism whenever it is possible and that’s why I named it after my country. And I always felt that if one has a chance to give back to the sport which offers everything to them it should be the first priority."

Terming it a dream project, Reddy said:

"I am glad to realize this dream of starting my own set-up.”

Reddy also plans to continue taking part in international tournaments for at least another couple of years. The 29-year-old doubles ace was ranked as high as world No. 17 in January 2016. The pair of Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri also competed at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

We will try to produce quality shuttlers from our academy: Sumeeth Reddy

Reddy believes the target of his academy will be to produce shuttlers who can make it to the top.

“Definitely, to produce international medalists is the ultimate goal. We will have five international standard courts to start with in view of the pandemic protocols and have expansion plans for the future. It will depend on the response we get from the players."

Reddy will only be scheduling, monitoring and planning since he is currently an active player.

“Since I am still playing, I will (for now) be involved now only in scheduling, monitoring and planning other off-court aspects of training,” said Reddy.

Sumeeth Reddy’s wife is N Sikki Reddy, who with Ashwini Ponnappa form the 27th ranked women’s doubles team.

Sumeeth Reddy has finalized a group of experienced coaches to manage the new coaching center.

“I will be having my own panel of qualified coaches and will increase the strength of the coaches in the future. It will be a professionally managed center where the youngsters will get all the facilities,” said Sumeeth Reddy.

B Sumeeth Reddy

Sumeeth and Sikki made history when they became the first Indian husband and wife mixed doubles pair when they took part in the Thailand Open earlier in the year.

It was the first big Badminton World Federation (BWF) tournament after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 calendar. The couple got married in March 2019.

Left-hander Sikki had partnered Pranav Jerry Chopra in mixed doubles until recently, while Sumeeth never had a settled partner in this category. Sumeeth, who has two Grand Prix titles and a gold at the 2016 South Asian Games to his name, added:

“I will continue to play both doubles. I will partner with my wife Sikki in the mixed doubles on a regular basis from now on. We are training together and would definitely like to try ourselves in the tournaments also,” said Sumeeth, who had won two Grand Prix titles and a gold medal in the South Asian Games in 2016.