Uday Pawar, former India 1983 World Cupper and badminton doubles international, is delighted about the presence of four young Mumbai shuttlers in the India team for the Badminton World Federation World Championships 2017 next week in Glasgow.
Three doubles specialists — 20-year-olds Chirag Shetty, Sanjana Santosh, and Shlok Ramachandran (22) — and a singles player, Tanvi Lad (24), will fly out with a 21-member India squad to Scotland. Spearheading the challenge will be World No.5 P.V. Sindhu in the women’s singles, and World No.8 K. Srikanth in the men’s singles.
Raring to go
Pawar says, “Chirag and Sanjana trained at Goregaon Sports Club before being called to join the national doubles camp in Hyderabad. Shlok and Tanvi were with me for five and nine years respectively.” The shuttlers from Mumbai qualified for the championships on their own steam and based on current world rankings maintained by the Badminton World Federation and their 2017 season performances.
Chirag, World No.5, will partner Satwiksai Reddy in the men’s doubles at Glasgow and is ranked highest among the city youngsters. Sanjana, ranked 39th in women’s doubles, is paired with Arathi Sara Sunil. Shlok (42nd) will team up with M. Arjun in men’s doubles. Tanvi (93rd), who qualified in women’s singles and is among four Indians in the main draw (Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Rituparna Das being the others), was ranked as high as 56 earlier this year.
Pawar recalls that Mumbai had also contributed four players at the 1983 World Cup held in Copenhagen, Denmark. “Ami Ghia, Pradeep Gandhe, Radhika Bose and me.” The incomparable Prakash Padukone earned a podium finish, sharing the bronze medal with Han Jian in men’s singles. Icuk Sugiarto from Indonesia won by beating teammate Liem Swie King in the final.
“Chirag and Sanjana decided at a young age to take up doubles, which helped their game develop. Both were good in singles, but listened to advice and opted for doubles, which requires stroke variations and a different mindset on court,” says Pawar, a member of the bronze medal-winning Indian team at 1986 Seoul Asian Games. “Players need to represent India at junior levels, then we can expect them to move to world-class levels later.” Chirag and Satwiksai teamed up for India at the Sudirman Cup, qualified for the Indoesnian Open Super Series main draw, and won the men’s doubles at the Vietnam International Tournament 2017.
Sanjana and partner Aarthi won the 2016 Polish Open women’s doubles title, followed by a third place at the same event this season. The Mumbai teenager also donned India colors at 2015 BWF World Junior Badminton Championships in Peru, where Chirag played in boys’ doubles. Both train at the Goregaon Sports Club indoor courts, where the Uday Pawar Badminton Academy (UPBA) is based. Shlok and Arjun won the men’s doubles crown at the Iran International Challenger Teheran this year, beating an Indonesian pair in the final.
Malaysian Tan Kim Her is the Indian coach for doubles and decides the combinations. “He believes big players have more chances of succeeding internationally. Chirag and Satwiksai are both big and like to attack. One of them needs to be the creator and learn fast,” observed the Mumbai coach, who toured with the current Indian team for a Super Series event in Sydney. “The federation has given me the task of spotting youngsters with potential for doubles. Tan will work on them.” Pawar adds, “Experience tells me that smaller players also should be looked at in doubles. They have a better eye-level than very tall players, will be able to read the path of shuttlecocks better.”
‘Playing to strengths’
Pawar appreciates the Malaysian’s work on players’ fitness and strength, but believes game reading also has value. “The world’s leading pairs get results with controlled aggression. Srikanth is the right example of an Indian who knows how to pace himself, play to strengths. He also listens to the coach.” Back at his academy, Pawar is trying to create a national camp-like atmosphere at GSC, with assistance from a responsive management. “We need younger doubles players to get the chance to train along with the best under the foreign coach so they push the established pairs and the next line is ready.”
Pawar attributes Chirag and Sanjana’s progress at a young age to early start and focus. “When opportunities arise, you should be able to grab them. The four got into the World Cup squad due to their hunger for success. The qualification process is clear and does not depend on the whims of anyone.”
The Premier Badminton League (PBL) is a stage to for youth to showcase talent. Mumbai Rockets drafted Chirag and Sanjana for PBL 2017, allowing the two teenagers to watch from close the Korean world beaters, Lee Yong Dae and Sung Ji-Hyun. Tanvi, working under coach Tom John in Bengaluru, was drafted in by PBL side Delhi Acers. Pawar says, “Playing with top pros and watching them prepare is useful in any sport. Mumbai junior players have examples to follow.”
