Dubai: While Saina Nehwal, the ‘super shuttler’ from India has the spotlight trained on her, the other representative from her country in the season finale in Dubai has relative anonymity. It’s something that seems to suit Kidambi Srikanth though, the men’s world No.8, as he readies for his campaign at the BWF (Badminton World Federation) Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals from Wednesday.
“It’s privilege for me to have qualified for the Finals. However, I don’t want to think too much about it and invite pressure on myself,” Srikanth said on the sidelines of the BWF annual awards dinner on Monday evening. The likely presence of a sizeable number of Indian fans, who are expected to turn up at the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Sports Complex to root for Srikanth and Nehwal, will surely be the right motivation to raise his game.
The last month or so saw the unassuming 21-year-old from the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh living a dream on the circuit. Srikanth’s upset win over Lin Dan, the Olympic champion and a poster boy in Chinese badminton in the final of the China Open Super Series – that too before a Beijing crowd – is being hailed as one of the biggest upsets of the sport in recent times.
Asked how he managed to conquer the mental barrier, Srikanth told Gulf News: “Playing someone like Lin Dan, who had been a sort of idol for me, and that too in China, had been a big enough motivation for me. I wanted to enjoy the moment and make the most of it.”
The following week, the Indian looked unstoppable again at the Hong Kong Open till his run was halted by Chen Long, the current world champion, in three games in the semi-final. The last-four showing was, however, enough to clinch him a berth in the Superseries Finals – an event which Srikkanth thinks is a boon for the sport.
“It’s a big development in our sport that like tennis we also have a season-ending event for the top eight men and women and with such good prize money,” said Srikanth, who was quite impressed with the facilities at the venue after his first practice session on Monday morning.
It’s been the familiar, arduous journey for any aspiring Indian sportsperson from a middle class beginning for Srikanth. Hailing from Guntur – a quiet town about four hours’ drive from Hyderabad - the last five years have seen him shifting base to Hyderabad and grind it out under the unwavering gaze of Pulella Gopichand, a former All England winner and a mentor of the likes of Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap.
What’s there in the water of Hyderabad that makes such talented badminton players? “Nothing really,” Srikanth was quick to catch on one’s attempt at humour, before adding: “It’s Gopi sir’s guidance and the world class facilities at his academy. He always instils a self-belief among his trainees.”
The last two years, according to Srikanth, saw him getting the right breakthrough in his career. Languishing at an obscure 240 in 2012, his first major shot at international honours came when he beat Thai veteran Boonsak Ponsana to clinch the Thailand Open Grand Prix at Bangkok last year.
The 2014 season has been easily his best, though the going is still not really smooth for Srikanth – as there is a constant need to re-invest in a sport like badminton. “I am thankful to our national body, the Badminton Assocation of India [BAI], for sponsoring me for at least 12-14 tournaments in a year. This apart, I have only got an apparel sponsor in Li-Ning,” he said candidly.
Asked about the goals he has in mind for the new year, Srikanth said: “It will be the Olympic qualification year for us in 2015. My first aim is to earn a berth for Rio and then try and win a medal there.”