Land of the Rising Sun gets its badminton star

Tago lost to Malaysias Lee Chong Wei in the final,and rues the missed opportunity. I wanted to win the title. Im happy I made the final,but it wouldve been better had I won, he says,recalling Japans furthest march at the prestigious All England,since H Akiyama 47 years ago. Risking a long serve and a close call on the last two points against Chong Wei,Tago also showed incredible grace in not creating a ruckus when the defining point at 20-19 was a wrong line call.

I played Chen Jin with no pressure to win the quarters,and beat him in my fourth attempt. Bao Chunlai,I could surprise with my game in our first meeting. The fact is the Chinese didnt expect me to come so hard at them, says Tago,recalling how he successfully frustrated and rushed the pair of those former world No.1s.

A wunderkind

Having started out in badminton,taking after his mother Yoshiko Yonokura,a former All England doubles finalist,Kenichi has been a former Asian junior champion,and a World Junior Championship finalist. A big fan of Taufik Hidayat and Lee Chong Wei,who have both challenged the Chinese supremacy,Tago believes that the rest of the world needs to step up its belief and expectations to stay in the hunt alongside the dragon-brigade.

The first year I played my Asian juniors,I was a little nervous to face them,but never after that, says the World No.14 with a pedigree to go to the very top.

Not considered the strongest bet even by his countrymen at the outset of the All England,the Japanese wunderkind had reignited his countrys interest in badminton over his successful week as he scalped three seeded players straight,halfway across the globe.

My countrymen didnt know I had the power and strength to beat the Chinese,so they were surprised too. But after that,many others believe that they can work hard and achieve the same, says Tago. What he remembers the most from the week is the sheer hard work he put in and how it drained him mentally. The loss was gutting. But this is the sort of week you train your whole life for and what makes badminton enjoyable, he says.

Coach Korean legend Park Joo Boong says: Tago is an intelligent player,in possession of the top-class skills required to beat the best,and mental strength sturdier than what most opponents would credit him with. Having played the Super Series semis in Hong Kong and Japan,he had been on the threshold of the big one,and his immaculate preparation he studiously breaks down games on video-tapes saw the All England turn out to be a fine culmination.

Second visit to India

Of the Indians,Tagos played and beaten Chetan Anand thrice,and believes that all being close matches,he cant really claim that the next match against Indian No.1 will be any easier. On his second visit to India first during World Championships at Hyderabad Tago says perfect preparation down to the last eaten morsel comes in his way of trying out the local food. Constantly plugged in to J-Pop Tago says he associates music most with the places he travels to,and songs are his only way of relaxation when away from court.

In India,a fortnight before the Thomas Cup pits Asias best against each other and he tugs at the pride of the under-achieving Japanese again,Kenichi Tago wants to ensure the All England,exactly a month ago,wasnt a mere happy blur from the recent past as he attempts to make a mark here.