By Jayadev Calamur
As you enter the badminton court at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), you hear the sound of racquets hitting shuttle with intensity. A group of children are practising on the three courts and a tall gentleman is inspecting their progress. He looks at us, gives the children some instructions and proceeds to speak.
“Indian players are the most skilful in the world. However, their problem is that their training lacks intensity,” says Rizqi Budi Raharjo, a coach from Indonesia. Rizqi is attached to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy for the last two years and is in Mumbai for two weeks as part of a training camp.
“If you notice,” he says, “India always start off well against the top teams. However, they always come back and win the match. It’s because of the intensity at which they train. That intensity builds their stamina and strength and that is why you do not see too many Indian players break into the top-10.”
He has a special word for India’s Saina Nehwal, who is currently ranked fourth in the world. “Where Saina does well is that she is mentally very strong. When it comes to stamina, the opponents may be physically stronger, but Saina’s mental toughness gives her the upper advantage.”
He, however, cautions that Saina has a 50-50 chance at the Olympics. “She needs to overcome the early hurdles, especially against the Chinese and Malaysians. They have a disciplined regimen and are a force to be reckoned with. If she is consistent, she has a chance of winning a medal,” he says.
Rizqi also adds that Lin Dan of China and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia are the top contenders in the men’s badminton event at the Olympics. He, however, laments on Indonesian players saying that they lack of discipline. “They have the potential to do really well, but unfortunately they do not because they tend to get laidback,” he says.
Asked on the future of badminton in India, Rizqi says that the players need an intense training programme to become better. “Without stamina, skill and talent will not win you too much. Train hard and the rewards will be good,” he concludes.
