P.V. Sindhu and K. Srikanth: Performance Analysis

The condition of Indian badminton has improved dramatically over the last few years. Many players have shown their talent, skill, capability and strength at the highest level. The best of them is of course the ace Indian shuttler and 2012 Olympics Bronze medallist, Saina Nehwal, but Indian Badminton is not just limited to Saina. Many young Indian players like P.V Sindhu, H.S Prannoy, K. Srikanth, B. Sai Praneeth, R.M.V Gurusaidutt, Arundhati Pantawane, Saili Rane, Sourabh Verma etc. have performed brilliantly at the national and international circuit over the last few months.

So let’s have a look at the performance analysis of two of them – P.V Sindhu and K. Srikanth.

1. P.V SINDHU

She really is the wonder girl of India, for she has the future of Indian badminton in her hands. P.V. Sindhu, who currently trains in Hyderabad at the Gopichand Badminton Academy and is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest in her mission for success, came into the limelight when she defeated the current world no. 1 and London Olympics Gold Medallist, Xuerui Li of China, in the quarter final of the China Open Super Series in September last year.

Sindhu’s performance over the last few months has been remarkable. Sindhu, who was the world no. 29 till May 2012, is now the world no. 15. This 17-year-old Indian teenage badminton sensation has defeated some of the top names in the badminton world over the last few months. Apart from defeating the current world no. 1, Li Xuerui, Sindhu also defeated the former world champion and the current world no. 7, Wang Shixian, in the recently concluded Badminton Asia Championship.

At the age of 15, Sindhu had to travel 56 kms every day to reach the academy for her practice sessions. Sindhu, who won the Badminton Asia Youth Under-19 Championship in July 2012, was also the runner up in the Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold title in December last year.

“P.V. Sindhu is one of the most promising and dedicated shuttlers in India’s younger lot at the moment as she has the potential to become the one of the top players in the world”, said India’s national coach and former All England winner, Pullela Gopichand.

Probably it will take at least one or two years for Sindhu to come closer to Saina’s achievements, but in all the tournaments P.V. Sindhu has played, she has shown a great fighting spirit and commendable temper. At 17, she is one for the future.

2. K. SRIKANTH

This 19-year-old talented shuttler from Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) is surely the future of Indian Badminton. K. Srikanth, who recently defeated the world no. 6 Danish shuttler, Jan O Jorgensen, in the first round of Yonex Sunrise India Open Superseries, also reached the semifinals of the Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold title in December last year.

Srikanth’s rise in the past few months has been tremendous. Srikanth, who was the world no. 240 till May 2012, is now the world no. 63. In this span of one year, he has defeated some top players of the world, including Jorgensen and Alamsyah Younus. Srikanth, who came into limelight in June 2012 after winning the Maldives International Badminton Challenge, also reached the semifinals of the Kumpoo Macau Open Badminton Grand Prix Gold in November 2012.

When K Srikanth joined Pullela Gopichand’s badminton academy around 2009, his main aim was to fly the nation’s colours in the doubles arena, more specifically on the mixed doubles circuit. But coach Gopichand advised him to concentrate more on singles rather than doubles and this decision was proven right by this young lad when he reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Junior Championships and even entered the pre-quarterfinals of the World Junior Championships in 2011.

Srikanth has really achieved a lot in the last one year or so, but he still needs to work a lot lot harder if he needs to be in the top 10 or top 20 of the world rankings. He really has the potential and capability to turn things around quickly, but he needs to be a little more consistent in his performance.