For the Kidambis in Guntur, it was a delightful Sunday as their sons — K. Srikanth and K. Nanda Gopal — created history in Indian badminton by winning two major international titles in contrasting styles.
Twenty-year-old Srikanth won the Thailand Grand Prix title defeating World No.8 Ponsana of Thailand 21-16, 21-12 in the final in just 34 minutes and his elder brother Nanda Gopal, partnering Maneesha, won the mixed doubles title in the Maldives International Challenge-2013 at Male, defeating a Korean pair.
“We are thrilled and we hope they carry on their good work,” said K.V.S. Krishna, an agriculturalist based at Guntur.
“Both started liking badminton as they used to visit NTR Stadium at Guntur, which was close to our house. Both are blessed with different styles and they are trained at the Gopichand Academy at Hyderabad,” an elated Krishna said. Both the brothers are so busy with their badminton that they are pursuing their graduation through distance education.
“Srikanth’s attitude is his asset. He never cares his opponent and he is aggression personified,” said Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association secretary K. Ch. Punnaiah Chowdary.
Both Srikanth and Nanda Gopal as youngsters went to Vizag to join the SAAP Academy under the tutelage of junior India coach G. Sudhakar Reddy and honed their skills for three years. Later, they shifted to Khammam where Mr. Sudhakar Reddy was posted as academy coach. “They were with me at the Khammam academy for five years before shifting to the Gopichand Academy,” said Mr. Sudhakar Reddy, who is presently the head coach of the Chetan Anand Academy.
Mr. Reddy said Srikanth possessed the perfect physique of a badminton player and he was a brilliant stroke player.
