The vague whiff of a dream turned to reality as the week wore on, and India inched closer to the hitherto impossible – winning the ultimate team title in badminton, the Thomas Cup. A dozen players in Bangkok, believed throughout. It’s a little secret that they’ve known for a month now: Indian men were going to win the Thomas Cup. This was a date with destiny, meticulously envisioned and executed by India’s most underrated and talent oozing – the men’s badminton players.
Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Shetty, Sen and HS. They knew, they said as much, they hoped the country would believe, they didn’t mind if it didn’t. They were due their date with destiny – no matter what others reckoned.
On Sunday, India invited history for an elegant cup of tea, demolishing Thomas Cup royalty, Indonesia, 3-0 in the finals. Denying them their 15th, while winning their first ever. Against all expectations. The reason why India’s badminton fraternity read the tea leaves right was because it has closely watched and shepherded India’s bunch of excellently proficient singles players.
Sen shrugged off a week of being a host of top names, to rally from a set down to beat Anthony 7-21, 21-17, 21-16 on the back-off a confidence in his defense that ballooned into attacking swagger in the kills.
Then India’s doubles team of pulled out the most audacious win of the tie, beating the hallowed Md – Kevin Sukamuljo 18-21, 23-21, 21-19. Guilty through this season of flubbing 20-18 leads, reversed the trend, winning from 4 match points away from defeat. This was patiently fought back, as big man Satwiksairaj brought on his big power game, to support the week’s hopping Energizer bunny Shetty, who has believed more than anyone else.
Keeping their nerve, playing fearless badminton, backing their incredible talent, the young Indians gave India the 2-0 lead.
I have no way to describe it. Fantastic players. I have never seen them so enthusiastic. Srikanth and Prannoy, leading the whole other lot that are very young. They’re all extremely motivated, it’s just an achievement of which I haven’t seen in the past. We always had good priority was on individual tournaments. But I was very keen that when they get together, they can definitely achieve.
We have a very talented team now and that has done the trick. I’m telling you, it is these players... Earlier we used to totally depend on our singles players, but now we have a formidable combination. Every pressure match, they pulled it off. So it is very, very creditable. I will also give a lot of credit to the young Sen. Srikanth, Prannoy have the experience, they’ve been playing at the highest level. When it mattered, they delivered for us. It’s just a fantastic team. I’m a lucky coach (to be here).
Prannoy could beat many of the big players, including who he beat in Indonesia. Such things compelled us to include him as the third player. We didn’t want him to go through the trials because we knew that he had slight injury issues, but we took the chance because we knew that if you really give him the time and space, he will do a good job. And he proved us right.
I know when we won the Cricket World Cup in 1983, things turned around for the sport to such an extent. I expect that to happen for Indian badminton. Of course, we have individual players, but they’ve gelled well they’ve delivered. I’m expecting that thing for Indian badminton, and I’m very happy that I could see such a thing in my lifetime. This is a dream come true for me.
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