‘Work hard,even when coaches not watching’

Roped in to identify potentially good players and work on their footwork and grip during a short training camp in the city,Johari was a stern task-master,saying that some improvements he had pointed out in footwork were readily lapped up by the youngsters,but soon they were back to their old habits of faulty striding. “They do it properly the first time and listen to coaches,but in a few minutes they are back to repeating the same mistakes. I will keep on stressing on them to do it the right way,” he said.

A coach for 36 years,and known to be particularly effective with the junior squads of Indonesia,India’s relative laidback ways of training needed to be changed,he stated. “You are going to be up against some very tough shuttlers,you’ll be expected to train very hard,” he added. “Some mistakes arise out of mental laziness,and coaches need to be stricter,” he candidly said.

While the city is looking expectantly towards the likes of Harsheel Dani and Tanvi Lad to take the big step into international badminton,Johari maintains that good habits needed to be inculcated into the youngsters pretty early. “You have to take care of everything from on court training to rest and supplementation. In Indonesia,by the time they are 13-15 they train everyday,6 days a week and start working hard on physical strengthening too. It’s a combination of agility training,shadow badminton,weights and repetitions. In Mumbai,kids are willing to listen,and even disciplines,but once a coach leaves the court it’s tough to tell if they continue to work hard even when no one’s looking,” Johari said.

The renowned coach has shepherded the early careers of legends Chandra Wijayan and Mia Audina,and remembers how both would go well beyond their 8 pm practice times,and continue practicing. “That intent needs to be there,” he said.

Trouble with Mumbai kids,says another local coach,is that they tend to lose seriousness for the game once they reach 13-14. “Academics takes over,and quite frankly,they come from well-heeled family,the drive’s missing. They are not out to prove anything,which makes them complacent.”

The coach remembers watching World No 1 Lee Chong Wei at the CCI courts in Mumbai in 2001-2,where the Malaysian great came as a World Jr No 3 and lost to a Thai in semis in a tournament won by Indian Chetan Anand. “Now that Thai is nowhere in the picture,but Chong Wei extremely worked hard and has reached these levels. Success need not come immediately in juniors,but if you work harder during the transition to seniors,the returns will be high,” Johari insisted.

At Padukone’s Bangalore Academy,ace trainer Deckline Leitao from South Africa,has been drilling in the magical three words,’run,run run,’ to trainees,and Johari expects the surging training levels to catch on in Mumbai too.

Prakash Padukone,more rooted into the realities of India,makes some leeway for the apparent slow pace of progress. “Bigger cities face more challenges. There’s more distractions,greater distances. The irony of sport in India is where we have facilities,we have no talent with intense drive and where we have drive and motivation in smaller towns,there’s no facilities / infrastructure. But generally players at junior levels even in Mumbai are very committed and sincere. Then academics takes a toll,” he explained.

As a result,the Indian legend is keen on taking this talent hunt to Tier 2 cities,and is keen that the sponsors aid his efforts. “I’m really excited to repeat this talent hunt in smaller cities,” he added.

The Mumbai winners – Rahul Vyas,12,of Bombay Gymkhana and Simran Singhi,11,of Khar Gymkhana,are headed to Padukone’s academy in Bangalore. “The girl is physically strong,and as you grow up that matters. And the boy is technically good,” he said. “But kids have to juggle so many things,I hope Mumbai produces a champion despite all these factors.”