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

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:

On his ward Shriyanshi’s loss

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.

His second innings as a coach

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.

The change in the Indian badminton scene over the years

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.

What has gone wrong?

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.

So money in sport does not equal professionalism?

There needs to be a system which needs to be run, there is a long-term plan which needs to be put in place. Look at kabaddi’s growth, where are we in comparison? It’s very much possible, just the right minds are in place and the right things are done. That’s not the case now.

Does bringing former players like yourself into the coaching system help inspire the next generation?

It does but frankly, inspiration or passion I feel is an overrated word. Passion dies if you don’t see progress. Right now I am very passionate, I have just quit playing and I want to make the next five world beaters from India, make India dominate world badminton, the josh is there — but I don’t know how long it will last if I don’t see any incentive to continue. It is quite disappointing and frankly embarrassing that you say an Indian coach will be paid 50k or 1 lakh when you go and hire foreigners for 10-15 lakhs. Maybe we didn’t have too many top players earlier but now we do.

I have been in the top-10 for four years, Guru has been in top-20. Sumeeth Reddy is an Olympian, Manu Attri an Olympian and top-20 in the world, Sai Praneeth is working somewhere in the US. Why are we even looking at people from outside? I want others like Srikanth and Prannoy to play as long as they can but what after five years? They are not as passionate about coaching but if it is lucrative, it makes sense, it is made rewarding enough, then they will also feel they want to contribute. How long can only passion sustain?

How do you see the next generation performing?

Lakshay is, of course, there, Priyanshu is very talented, Kiran George obviously, of the others in the Indian circuit Rithvik Sanjeevi is very good, Tarun Mannepalli is there, Mithun Manjunath has just faltered a little but can pick up. I think the talent is there but the structure is not.

I would go so far as to say that a few individuals are doing all the groundwork. We have reached great levels because a few individuals were crazy. Those who have been there and done that, unfortunately they are not having absolute liberty to structure it properly. There was Prakash sir, there is Gopi sir who has literally produced medallists and after that, among the former top-10 players there is me and another 1-2. But if we have to turn out champions as a factory, hard decisions have to be taken and qualified professionals have to be in charge. In most places in the world it’s largely coach centric, whether China, Korea or Japan. Here it is more player centric.