BAI seeks to address major failing at first-ever exclusive doubles camp

The camp has been called specifically to select the doubles pairs for February’s Thomas Cup in Delhi. Uday Pawar and Leroy D’Sa, doubles specialists from Indian badminton’s golden period in the early ’80s, will coach five pairs for one month. D’Sa will join the camp on his return from Europe, where he is accompanying the Indian team.

Speakingto The Indian Express, Pawar said, “Our weakness is doubles. At the Commonwealth Games last year, we won just two of the seven doubles ties. A couple more of those and the gold would have been ours. Actually, doubles has been our nemesis since Prakash’s days.”

Pawar clarified that it was not a developmental camp, when asked why promising juniors like V Diju, Sanaave Thomas and Jaison Xavier had not been called. “We have to fall back on tried and tested combinations. Four months is too short a period to try out new pairs.”

But Pawar will have to do some match-making, especially for India’s most successful doubles player in recent times, Vinod Kumar. Vinod’s former partner Rajeev Bagga has been off the circuit due to other committments.Pawar said, “Prakash (Padukone) has given me the go-ahead to invite to the camp Mumbai players, including Bagga, if available, and Mitesh Hazarnis. We’ll then find partners for Vinod and the others.”

The list of campers includes two surprises — Sachin Rattiand Ajit Wijetilak, both howering around the 100s in the World singles rankings. Pawar explained, “Traditionally, most players in India switch over to doubles when they are no longer fit for singles. We are looking to transform a few players into all-rounders. Sachin and Ajit can both do well in doubles, though we don’t want them to stop playing singles.” This, Pawar felt, will also help develop a pool of five-six pairs, that will push each other to perform better.

Jaseel Ismail and Vincent Lobo, currently India’s top pair, will join the camp a few days later, the latter taking a break for his M Com exams. Wijetilak will reach here tomorrow, while Ratti should join the camp after a 10-day training in Europe ends. Marcos Bristow and Vijaydeep Singh, Amrish Shinde and Mayur Ghatnekar are the other two set pairs. Rounding off the tally are Jose George and Vinod.

Vinod expressed happiness that a camp like this was finally being held. “Our poor performances in doubles is largely because we do not practiseenough as a pair. And that’s because the team is often made up of players from two different cities. Camps are a must.”

DONG WITH THE WIND!

Four months into his year-long contract with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Chinese badminton coach to the Indian team Zhu Xiao Dong has flown the coop. He left India in the middle of September. Even Badminton Association of India (BAI) executive president, Prakash Padukone, came to know about Dong’s departure only a week after he left, it is learnt. While the reasons are unknown, Dong’s stay in India was never hunky-dory. He did not know the language, could not communicate with the players. He was also reportedly unhappy with the $ 1000 monthly salary.

Dong, recommended to BAI by the International Badminton Federation (IBF), visited Mumbai twice once for a week-long camp in June, and again to observe the Junior All-India Grand Prix in August. On both occasions, he informally admitted he was bored because of lack of work.

According to one player,Dong’s trip here was a waste. He was not given any work. "The money paid to him could have gone a long way with one of the Indian coaches," he said.

Uday Pawar said, “it was unfortunate that he left. We had drawn up a blueprint wherein Dong was to have taken charge of the top 15-20 juniors, aged between 16-22.”

Pawar was unable to throw light on BAI’s plans to look out for Dong’s substitute, if any.