While there is no doubting that all eyes will be on the likes on the more prominent names like Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap, Lee Chong Wei etc during the opening night of the Premier Badminton League(PBL), there will also be an opportunity for the youngsters in both teams to showcase their potential.
One among those is 23-year-old Sai Praneeth, who will be playing for the visitors. Speaking ahead of the start of the League, Sai wished for a successful staging of the Lague and hoped that it would be conducted next year as well.
“After two years the PBL is back and it’s bigger than last time. This is the first tournament of the year and I wish it will be a good success and that it takes place every year. I hope to play well.
“I wish to play good and beat some top players above me which will give me confidence throughout the year. After PBL there is the Malaysian Open and the Indian Open. If I play well here, it will boost my confidence,” he said.
He further added that he wanted to break the jinx of losing close encounters and admitted it may be was an issue in the mind and not a technical issue.
“With every top player I am playing, I am losing 21-19 or 21-18 in third set. I want to break that (jinx). It may be a mental issue. In the crucial time I am a bit tense, probably I just want (desperately) to win these games. I want to win one such close match. That will boost my confidence,” The shuttler said.
Sai also expressed a desire to win a Super Series title and added that he had some work to doas far as physical fitness was concerned.
“I want to become a Super Series champion, World Champion and win big medals. (But for that to happen) I should be much more fit than what I am. That’s the only issue for me — physical fitness, not game fitness,” he concluded.
