Parupalli Kashyap Interview | We have superstars and money, but badminton as a sport hasn’t grown Premium

Parupalli Kashyap, former badminton star, discusses the stagnation in Indian badminton and the need for change as a coach.

A two-time winner at the Syed Modi India International Super 300, one of only two players to do so, Parupalli Kashyap knows the city and the tournament as well as anyone can. He has also seen the fan frenzy for the biggest stars at the BBD Academy, being the recipient of it more than once. A bonafide star in his playing days, with a career-high ranking of sixth in the world, Kashyap was known for being outspoken both in praise and criticism. Back in the city as a coach this time, the 38-year-old was as vocal about the stagnation in Indian badminton and the way ahead, in an exclusive chat with The Hindu:

A little disappointed because she didn’t capitalise on the conditions in the third game. She was quite brilliant and she is still coming up, so quarterfinals was a good show. She was better than her opponent, reading the conditions also well but maybe there were some jitters. Self-belief has to improve but it will come, winning a few quarters and semifinal matches will help. It looks very positive, she is one of the good stroke players and has powerful smashes. Sometimes you need to dumb down the game a little and in moments when you take lead and put pressure on the opponent, she faltered in those.

I think some part of a coach was always there in me. Even as a player, I was always helping out my colleagues like Srikanth, R.M.V. Guru Sai Dutt, Sameer Verma or H.S. Prannoy, the entire batch. Even with Saina (Nehwal). I was always interacting with them and discussing ideas on how to play rallies or how to improve the game, so I guess I am very much in my comfort zone as a coach.

It’s quite disappointing actually. There are so many superstars in the sport but the sport itself hasn’t grown. It’s still the same. Players are coming up, there is so much talent, there has been an exponential rise in the number of players and academies, tournament participation has increased but the money and the magnanimity in the sport hasn’t grown.

In Lucknow, when I played semifinals against Tommy Sugiarto or Viktor Axelsen, the stadium used to be packed. I don’t know why. Just the broadcast, the PBL not happening for so many years, somewhere we have faltered and it’s quite disappointing. Our structure also has to get better. We were capable of a lot more, hopefully we wake up now and push hard.

I am a part of the system and I don’t want to sound very pessimistic but it should have been a lot more. Badminton should have been the No. 2 sport after cricket. The players are also making good money, the entire ecosystem has grown since 2010-11 after the Commonwealth Games onwards, the hype was so big and we all became stars. But there is no professionalism.

I feel the way the system and the federation is being run, we missed the bus. People like P. Gopichand sir are still producing players and we will keep doing it but for the sport to grow, there are a lot of other factors and people in charge have to do more.