They shuttled their way to podium finish! For, Nelakurthi Sikki Reddy dreaming to make it to the 2016 Rio Olympics, the start this season could not have been more perfect in winning the women’s doubles title in the Polish International challenge with her training partner (Gopichand Academy) Pradnya Gadre.
In fact, she had she already won three titles in women’s and the mixed doubles international titles.
Last week she won the mixed doubles title playing with another Hyderabadi Tarun Kona in the Romanian Challenge. It was only five years ago that Sikki, who suffered a nasty knee injury which almost cut short what was turning out to be very promising career especially in singles, was groping in the dark.
But, thanks to the rehab programme by the Delhi-based, Dr. Ashok Rajgopal, she was back on the court within six months. Having to give up singles and forced to focus solely on doubles may have hurt her but Sikki is emerging as the next big hope in this category in Indian badminton.
“My dream is to play in Olympics and I am nurturing the biggest dream of my life. It is a long and very tough route to realise that goal. But, the way things are moving in the circuit and with all the support of my chief coach and mentor (Pullela Gopichand), I am confident of making it,” says the 21-year-old shuttler, also the winner of the women’s team event bronze in the last Asian Games.
She is now preparing for the demanding circuit in the coming days including the India Open in Delhi from March 26.
It was only five years ago that Sikki suffered a nasty knee injury which almost cut short what was turning out to be a promising career
