It’s all happening in Indian badminton. Even as there is talk about Saina Nehwal’s spectacular rise in world badminton, another silver-lining can be spotted if one follows the progress of other Indian players. Prominent among them are Parupalli Kashyap and RMV Gurusaidutt, who have made a mark in international badminton in recent times.
Twenty four-year-old Kashyap, a bundle of energy, was a semifinalist at Singapore Open Super Series before losing to seventh seed Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in three tough games while the gutsy Gurusaidutt put up a masterful display at the Indian Open in Chennai. The 20-year-old shocked second seed Muhammad Hashim (Malaysia) and defeated Kashyap in the semifinals before losing to Yunus Alamyah of Indonesia in the summit clash.
Both Kashyap and Gurusaidutt, products of Pullela Gopi Chand Academy, have style, power and game to make it to the higher league. Chief coach Gopi Chand is confident that the two will break into top 20 by the end of the year. “They are vastly improved players. They have shown the skills, deftness, athleticism, speed, endurance and toughness (needed to reach the top). It’s a matter of time before they become more consistent,” said Gopi.
Coach Bhaskar Babu, who accompanied the Indian team to Singapore and Indonesia, also agreed that Kashyap and Gurusaidutt are the players to watch out for. “They are playing brilliantly. They have shown aggression on the court. Their mental preparation and physical strength have been good. They are not afraid of big players now,” said Babu.
Kashyap is confident of a good show in the Paris World Championship, which will take place from August 24. Kashyap and National champion Chetan Anand are the only two Indians to secure direct entries to the Paris championship. “The recent performances have made me confident. I’m hopeful of a good show in Paris. I’ve been working hard for the past few months. The good news is I’m injury free. With the tournament just weeks away, I’ll be pushing harder in training,” said Kashyap.
That Kashyap has been able to stretch big players like Chen Jin, Taufiq Hidayat or Sony Dwi Kuncoro is ample proof of his growing stature. “I have the game to beat these players. With a bit of luck, I can. I’m fit and hopefully, I can break this jinx (against top players),” he says.
Kashyap agrees that Saina’s performances have inspired him to raise his game. “When we see Saina’s game, it does inspire us. Indians are as good as Chinese, Danes, Indonesians or Malaysians. It’s a matter of time before we call the shots,” he said.
Gopi Chand says Kashyap’s game has become sharper. “He’s made tremendous progress. He is moving with a lot of fluidity and has been playing some daring strokes. He is also smashing with great power,” he points out. The jump smash is a powerful weapon of Kashyap. “I’m working hard on this stroke. I’m practising six to seven hours and that has given me the confidence,” he adds.
Physiotherapist C Kiran says Kashyap and Gurusaidutt have shown “tremendous energy and enthusiasm” on the court. “They are the new generation of players who believe in hard work.”
The little Gurusaidutt is a gritty customer. For long, he was handicapped by a lack of physical strength. But that has changed as Guru has slogged his way to the top. He is a much fitter player now. There is style, variety and substance in his game. “He is much more in control of the shuttle now. He has improved his technique and has always been a good mover on the court,” says Gopi Chand.
das@expressbuzz.com
