I had gone to Birmingham with no expectations

I had gone into the Sydney Olympics in 2000 with thorough planning and lost,which was a crushing feeling. So,I was very,very determined that I will never go into any tournament with planning.

I had gone into the Sydney Olympics in 2000 with thorough planning and lost,which was a crushing feeling. So,I was very,very determined that I will never go into any tournament with planning. I headed to Birmingham with no expectations whatsoever. Id been training at SAI,Bangalore with a bunch of juniors. It was sheer hard work,and an unbelievable physical workload. I decided along with my coaches Ganguly Prasad and Leroy DSa that we would take it one match at a time at the All England. Playing the semis and finals of the event itself was a big thing,but if Id stopped there it wouldnt have counted for much now.

Biggest match

The biggest match of the All England would be the semi-final against top-seed Peter Gade,then No 1. Id never beaten him before and it invariably turned out to be the toughest.

We wrestled with four match points before I won. Id never played a final of that stature either,so it was another big match,but Id planned well for Chen Hong and knew I needed to tire him out. The predominant and first emotion after winning the title was that of relief,since it had been such a physical and mental grind. It was torture with my body aching in various places. So just after the title,I felt relieved and relaxed.

Throughout the tournament I stuck to a routine,and Im quite impressed by how I managed it everyday. Id have breakfast at the same time,order the same food at the same restaurant,and listen to the same music.

Crucial details

Some detailing goes into every tournament. And itll help when I go there as coach now,because you know what exactly to think and what not to,and know just the mistakes you shouldnt make. I knew it was big. But it looks bigger when I look at it now. My career would look very different without the All England title.

I also remember the things I didnt do I didnt read newspapers,didnt talk to friends,or take calls. In fact,after winning the title,I spoke to my mom after 6 hours,which was 1 a.m London time. Players are different now and they smartly manage everything even while fiddling with their cell-phones. But they know the bottomline that the perspective and focus is always on the game. Its important you have role models,whove achieved the highest that there is to achieve. It just makes your goals achievable,and aspirations believable. I was lucky I had Prakash sir to look up to,and something big to aim at.

As told to Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More