Source: TwitterThe best time to speak to Pullela Gopichand is somewhere around 5-5:30am in the morning. That’s when he is at the academy and getting ready to start the day. It has now been a routine for a decade and more, and I know that’s when he will pick up the call and settle down for a candid conversation. With the World Championship just round the corner, it was important to speak to the national head coach on what he thought of India’s chances. And it is not simply the World Championship that is in focus. Within weeks, we have the Super 1000 in China and then the all-important Asian Games. So the next six weeks are hugely important for Indian badminton, and will give us an idea where we stand.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Boria: Massive month and a half coming up. How are you looking at things?
Gopichand: I am cautiously optimistic. We had a very good few weeks on the Asian circuit and got some good results. Even when our players lost, they were able to get in some close matches. In such contests, you win some and you lose some. Prannoy in the Australian Open final, for example. Anyone could have won. Satwik-Chirag in Japan. Lakshya in Japan,Treesa and Gayatri as well. So, if you see, our players have been there or thereabouts, and that’s what gives me hope and confidence. I am positive of some very good results, and coming back with some good medals.
Boria: That’s a more generic answer. Now that you are back on tour, let me ask you specific questions. Let’s start with Satwik and Chirag.
Gopichand: I have been saying this to you for years now, that they are right up there with the world’s best. They can beat any pair on their day, and have the ability to win the title. In fact, they can win any medal in any event if they play to potential. I do expect good things from them. Be it the World Championships, the Super 1000 in China or the Asian Games, you would want Satwik and Chirag to do well. Like I said to you, they have it in them to do so.
Boria: Sindhu…
Gopichand: I have also been reading what all is being written about Sindhu. Let me tell you something. She is a big-stage player, and I am very confident she will soon be back in form. She is working hard and training with focus. She has a lot to offer, and I am very hopeful that come the World Championships and the Asian Games, we will see the old Sindhu. She has an excellent record in the World Championships, and that’s when she lifts her game. So I would urge a little more patience, for she will soon deliver for India.
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Boria: Prannoy, more with respect to the draw. He will again face Viktor if he makes the quarters.
Gopichand: There is no real good or bad draw when you aspire to win a competition. And Prannoy is currently playing at that level where he can beat anyone. So I am not reading too much into the draw. He has a chance each time he steps on court. Be it in Denmark or in China or in Hangzhou. When you are playing well, you will always have a chance. Sometimes you might lose a close match, but that doesn’t mean you did not have your opportunity. With Prannoy, Lakshya, Srikkanth who are all playing well at the moment, there is always a chance.
Boria: Lakshya…
Gopichand: He has played very well in the last month and a half, and is again someone I have high hopes from. If you see him closely, you will see he has the confidence now to do very well and deliver some strong results for us. Between Prannoy and Lakshya, I do expect some good medals in the next few tournaments in Men’s singles.
Boria: Treesa-Gayatri and the youngsters – the mixed doubles teams, for example.
Gopichand: Look at their performances on the Asian circuit, and you will see they have not been outplayed or outclassed. They have largely been in the contest and have sometimes lost close matches. You want your players to stay in the contest, and then it is a matter of time before they start winning close games. Be it Treesa-Gayatri or the relatively new pair of Rohan and Sikki, both have won some important matches and look in good shape.
I will tell you something very candidly – I am very hopeful of our chances in the World Championships and in the Asian Games. I see our players doing well, and they all have the potential to get us medals. While it is impossible to predict in sport, you can see that they are well prepared. The process is good. They have put in the hard yards. The results on the Asian circuit are proof that we aren’t lagging behind anyone in anything. So I will request you to keep supporting, and I am confident you will not be disappointed.
With so much support from the government, SAI, TOPS and the unwavering BAI under Himanta Biswa Sarma- the new centre of excellence is evidence- the sport is robust.
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