Mumbai Rockets feels like a homecoming: Ajay Jayaram

Ajay Jayaram is the Mumbai face in the Premier Badminton League (PBL) 2017. He is playing for Mumbai Rockets in the six-team competition and is ranked 19th in the Badminton World Federation men’s list. His participation has evoked local interest at the indoor courts of the National Sports Club of India in Worli.

The Chembur-born player is the second-highest ranked Indian after Kidambi Srikanth (ranked 15) in the event, and is rated as a dangerous opponent due to the deception in his game. A stint at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru brought him in touch with India-born British coach Tom John. Excerpts from an interview:

You have changed PBL teams from Delhi Acers to Mumbai Rockets. What is the toughest part of adapting to a different setup?

I have been quite lucky. I had a good run and was part of winning teams both times (Hyderabad Hotshots in 2013 and Delhi Acers in 2016). Mumbai Rockets feels like a homecoming of sorts. I wouldn’t say that adapting to a new team is that hard. At the end of the day, your job is to do well in your match.

Do you feel lucky to be competing when public interest in PBL is growing?

I have always believed that a strong league with good marketing and visibility is necessary to take the game to the next level. At a time when Indian badminton is at its best, a league like this was necessary to do justice in generating public interest.

PBL creates playing and earning opportunities for internationals like you. Has the event changed your life?

As players, we have done well on the international stage. PBL gives us necessary visibility, creates an earning opportunity and we get to play in front of packed stadiums, which otherwise doesn’t happen in India.

How have your parents reacted to your participation in PBL? Do they feel relieved the decision to support your career is turning out right?

They are quite happy to see me be a part of the PBL. They’ve never held themselves back when it’s come to supporting me. I can’t say how much justice I’ve done to their efforts, but it’s nice to see them so involved with everything about the tournament. Their excitement certainly motivates me.

Mumbai has many families with badminton-playing kids. Having travelled that road, what is your view on pursuing academics and sports at the same time?

I have always been asked by parents how I managed to do both academics and badminton. I believe it isn’t as difficult as one thinks it is. If one is motivated enough, it is possible to do well in both. Certain sacrifices are necessary, but the rewards are definitely worth more. At some point, you would have to choose between the two, but until you’re around 18 or so, I wouldn’t recommend giving up on either.

Your move to shift base from Mumbai to Bengaluru for training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy is similar to other children studying away from home for higher studies. How was your experience at the academy?

I moved to Bengaluru after Class XII. I think it was necessar then that I graduate to a better academy with better facilities and players. Initially, it was hard to adjust to life away from home but it turned out to be the right move. Within a year of moving to the academy, I started doing well in the senior national circuit and was selected to represent India in international tournaments.

Your game is based on deceptive strokeplay, qualities similar to your mentor Prakash Padukone. Did you get the space to develop your game?

From a young age, I have relied on my net game and deceptive abilities. Prakash Sir, of course, was known for his deception and has been a huge inspiration for me. Joining his academy was a huge career boost. I became an all-round player there.

British coach Tom John is said to have a major impact on your game? What type of a coach is he?

I In 2010, I was struggling a bit with my form and ranking. Tom John had come to Bengaluru for a short stint then and I had a few good training sessions. He asked me to join him in Portugal for a few months where he was the national coach. It was a turning point in my career, within a few months, my rankings rose from the 70s to the 30s. He shifted base to India and I have been training with him since. He is a taskmaster, is really hard on you and at times his methods are far from conventional. But he manages to instil a never-say-die attitude which I believe is necessary to do well.