The Indian group’s historic Thomas Cup victory will make it a “badminton superpower” because it has effectively and really arrived on world stage with an achievement, which is means larger than any particular person accomplishment, feels legendary Prakash Padukone.
India on Sunday dethroned defending champions and 14-time winners Indonesia with a commanding 3-0 win within the summit conflict of the Thomas Cup Final to script a historic win.
“I did not count on this to occur so early, not a minimum of within the subsequent 8-10 years. I feel we’ve got really arrived and India will probably be thought-about a superpower and a risk any further. It will give an enormous fillip to the game,” Padukone, India’s first All England Champion in 1980, informed PTI throughout an unique interplay.
Padukone has little question that this Indian badminton’s watershed second and there’s a must capitalize and construct on this stupendous success.
“It was a complete team effort and a convincing win and a momentous occasion. I think it is equally great or perhaps greater than Individual success. We needed this and I think our moment has truly arrived. Now there is no looking back and its time to capitalize on it.” Padukone, who had led India to the semi-finals within the 1979 version of Thomas Cup, feels this win can have an excellent influence on the game within the nation and as a nation, it’s paramount that we do not let the momentum slip.
Let’s simply say Ben Beckman informed you so.
Here’s his tackle India’s historic win.#ThomasUberCups #bangkok2022 pic.twitter.com/zKmZjhW97j
— BWF (@bwfmedia) May 16, 2022
“It will make it more popular, trigger more growth in the sport, more youngsters will be taking it up, more corporate and government support will come and overall the standard should improve and the trend should show an upward graph,” he stated.
For the contact artist of yesteryears, the following decade will probably be essential in an effort to carry the momentum.
“The onus will be on federations and also on state associations to cease this opportunity and see how they can capitalize on this in the next 5 to 10 years. It is important to get more people involved in the sport, come up with innovative ideas.” Padukone desires a blue-print in place, a imaginative and prescient doc that can reveal the best way ahead.
“It will put extra duty on them (federation), so that they must have a imaginative and prescient, must have a plan in place. May be have extra regional centres, higher infrastructure, get company assist and do not lose this chance. We actually need to plan forward for five to 10 years.” Padukone feels the emergence of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Sen is among the prime causes behind India’s victory on the Thomas Cup.
Inspirational @srikidambi was the hero for Team with performs like this#TotalEnergiesBadminton #ThomasUberCups #bangkok2022 pic.twitter.com/joC1TVXJeS
— BWF (@bwfmedia) May 15, 2022
“Doubles has always been our weakness but now we have a doubles pair which can beat anybody in the world. Earlier there was too much pressure on the singles but now they could play freely and it showed on the court,” he stated.
“So when Lakshya Sen did not win, India nonetheless gained due to doubles. They are a longtime pair and it has offered steadiness to the group. Everything got here collectively this time.” Padukone, who has produced numerous gamers after establishing his academy (PPBA) in Bangalore means again in 1994, feels numerous kids will choose up doubles after watching Satwik and Chirag on the Thomas Cup.
“This title will assist kids to take up doubles as a specialised sport.
Earlier, they’d strive singles after which transfer to doubles. But the best way Satwik-Chirag efficiency, this victory will do wonders to Indian badminton and focus will probably be on doubles now.
“It will get its due when it comes to prize cash, recognition, choice, which is a superb signal.
Slightly worrying indicators for girls’s badminton
The 66-year-old, who was ranked world No. 1 in 1980, feels the lads’s group is in protected arms however he’s apprehensive in regards to the lack of depth in ladies’s badminton.
“We have depth in men’s team at least. I mean, Lakshya is still young, few players like Mithun, Kiran are doing well and there are few from Gopichand academy as well. Srikanth and Prannoy are slighty older but they will be there at least when we defend it in two years time so we have good bench strength in men’s section,” he stated.
“But it’s the women entrance, the place it’s barely worrying. We do not have the identical bench power in ladies in comparison with males. I’m not saying we do not have the expertise, we do. But none of them are on the similar degree as Saina or Sindhu, which is a bit worrying,” Padukone was clear about his apprehensions.
The Indian ladies’s group had gained the bronze medals twice however it didn’t cross the quarterfinals after shedding 0-5 to Korea.
Padukone stated that India should maintain aiming increased after setting the bar excessive with the Thomas Cup win as there will probably be numerous expectations.
“There will probably be extra stress now. India has raised the bar now. People can have extra expectations and even a semi-final end or a remaining end won’t be acceptable. It will probably be thought-about that commonplace has gone down.
“So will probably be essential to steadiness it out and ensure we win as many occasions as potential and never be glad. We must go for gold every time,” he stated.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
