Opinion Sindhu needs to climb down a rung

Five Japanese girls have made the quarters at their home Super Series.

September 20, 2013 02:15 AM IST First published on: Sep 20, 2013 at 02:15 AM IST

Akane Yamaguchi,16,is yet to shed her baby fat or break into world badminton’s Top 100 in women’s singles since she bounded onto the international circuit early in 2013. Distinctly short and stubby,and coming through the qualifiers at the Japan Open Super Series,she ought not to have posed any significant threat to PV Sindhu.

Instead the lanky Indian was wallopped 21-6,21-17 in a 32-minute second round match on a distinctly wretched day for her when the World Championships bronze medallist from India dropped out of the Top 10 to No 12 in rankings. Indias top-headliner from two months ago is destined to learn the ups and downs of international badminton far more quickly than she wouldve imagined as the slayer of Chinese dragons gets thumped by Thais and Japanese.

Its not so much about getting beaten by world No. 145 Yamaguchi has made finals of the last three tournaments,albeit smaller grade International series,and she boasts of a world junior mixed doubles medal,a triumph that points to her versatility.

A junior world championship finalist from last year where the then-15-year-old had lost to Japans most promising youngster Nozomi Okuhara Yamaguchi is one of the faces of Japanese resurgence,which like the Thai charge,is threatening Chinas dominance.

Like Ratchanok Inthanon the teen world champion from Thailand Yamaguchi is also being groomed in a Japanese system where individuality and flair are encouraged. Unlike India,reliant on its two shuttlers Nehwal and Sindhu,the Japanese and Thai surges seem more sustainable,given theres a half-dozen upstarts waiting to bolt out of the wings.

Five Japanese girls have made the quarters at their home Super Series,and theyre touted to retain their hold over the World Juniors crown later this October. It would do Sindhu a load of good to step down a rung to juniors,head to Thailand this October,and make a charge at the World Juniors title.

(Shivani is a senior assistant editor based in Mumbai.)shivani.naik@expressindia.com