Mumbai: National badminton coach, Pullela Gopichand, Wednesday expressed his happiness on the performances given by the Indian shuttlers throughout the year while termed Kidambi Srikanth’s feat of winning four Super Series titles as ‘phenomenal’.
“It’s been a great year. I think all the players have done well. At the beginning of the year if you had said this is what you would get this year, I would have taken it very happily,” said Gopichand here.
“In the big events – World Championships or Super Series events, we have done well. Also varied people have done well. Last year was, may be, (PV) Sindhu’s year. This year men’s singles has come off (well). Three of them won Super Series titles, winning GP gold level — (HS) Prannoy and Sameer (Verma). Overall it has been a good year. Now hoping for a good finish in Dubai (Super Series finals),” he remarked.
“To win four Super Series titles and becoming runner-up at one and, at the end of the year, reaching a ranking of World No.2 is phenomenal. Not many players in world badminton (have achieved that). The only players who have achieved that – we call them legends,” said Gopichand on Srikanth’s brilliant run this year.
“He’s 24 and has 8-10 years of badminton left in him. What he has achieved is phenomenal,” Gopichand gushed.
He also expressed his satisfaction on the performances of Sindhu and Saina. “Sindhu has been good – Super Series wins in India Open and Korea and finals of the Super Series in Hong Kong and the World Championships (silver) medal. She will be even better in coming days,” he said.
Speaking on Saina, Gopichand said, “She has also done well. But we will have to work on a few aspects. She needs to be fitter and also get back from her injury, as well as ensure she is physically stronger to win match after match,” Gopichand signed off.
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