The Big Interview: India can't be badminton superpower without strong doubles pairs, says Vimal Kumar

Vimal Kumar’s bright orange sports outfit was in stark contrast to the surroundings at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy.

The academy, located on Jasma Bhavan road in Bangalore, is hard to spot. There is no big gate and parking area or green playing field like at Pullela Gopichand’s academy in Hyderabad. Nor is there the massive staircase.

The PPBA has soft colours, and Kumar’s desk is cluttered with paperwork, a buzzing printer and assorted pictures. The door is always ajar. Players walk in and out of his office area.

The former chief coach of Indian badminton calls up home to delay his lunch appointment and says the interview should be ‘quick’. But he ends up speaking for more than half an hour with Firstpost – his passion for badminton has seen him go from Malaysia to Cape Town and Auckland as a coach – and now sees him train India’s World No 2 Saina Nehwal.

In a freewheeling chat held in early June, Kumar talks about India’s doubles problem, where the government and the Badminton Association of India (BAI) can spend money and how he enjoys being ‘Saina’s coach’.

Is India a badminton superpower? How much out of 10 would you give India as a badminton power?

Not really. We are one step below that level. Korea, Indonesia and China are at that level. We need to strengthen our paired event – only then can we be called a badminton superpower — but this has been happening since 25 years. I would give seven out of 10 to the current badminton scenario in India.

We’ve noticed Indian players seem to fall in the pressure rounds — the last four and the final. This is happening often. Why?

I think fitness is taken care of currently. Our methods have improved. Our physios need to be credited for this. But psychological aspects need to change. We don’t really believe we can make it big. There are one or two exceptions – but even our top players are still in awe.

We have a complex. It also depends on how you are brought up. That softness matters. Here, maybe it is changing… the real toughness comes with giving players more responsibility in life. If players don’t believe, it won’t work – sports psychologists can only take you up to a certain level.

Do badminton administrators discuss the doubles issue? How high is it on their agenda?

It’s certainly an issue that is known. But it’s basically about the logistics working out. The first step is to adequately compensate former doubles players who want to support the sport — that will encourage them to become coaches. Even though the funding is enough – they (the BAI) may want to give $100,000 to a foreign coach but nothing close to that figure to Indians – their argument is that you’re getting a government job. That is not a way to improve. Expertise needs to be compensated.

But it’s about government policy – you get paid from here and not from there and all that. It is a major issue and changes need to be made. If you want to be a badminton superpower we need to find the balance between doubles and singles. We have one or two good pairs but that is not enough.

Is there a lack of role models in doubles?

Yes, and that doesn’t help motivation. If some foreigner is playing at a high level and takes over the doubles programme with Indians assisting, that would be ideal. Very few (who come to my academy) tell me they want to become doubles stars.

Does the fact that doubles players make less money than singles players affect this choice?

That’s not a reason to deter players. You cannot compare – singles players will always have the priority. Fame and money may play on the mind of players but then look at tennis – doubles players have enough of all that. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa also have a name. All these will come but these facts should not be a deterrent.

What about the controversies surrounding Jwala and Ashwini. Is that a turn off for future doubles players?

No it’s not a turn off. I feel doubles can be given more attention, yes — but these controversies don’t really affect future players.

Is there enough money being pumped into the sport? If yes, does it need to be spent better?

Yes. Money is there and we can’t complain about that. We’re not flush with cash but we are spending adequately: players are taken care properly, travel issues are not there… but the association needs to spend on grassroots and more centres in doubles too. Money needs to be invested in academies too.

So let’s say you had as much money as you wanted from the BAI — how would you spend it?

Spread it better – it’s only available for top players right now. They are earning well and through sponsorshop too — so that’s not a worry. Investing money into the next line of players is what I would prioritise. Also the number of centres — it is too concentrated to the south. That has to change. Better centres need to come up in the north, east and west – we need more centres like in the south.

Is the BAI more of a hassle or are they helping?

What I’ll says is that we’re better placed than many other sports. Sometimes there is frustration. It can get better – with the profile of the sport being so good. Still feel they can be more proactive in a lot of endeavours.

Do you think we need a licensing system for badminton coaches?

We don’t have anything like that — but there can be a prerequisite if you want it to become one. Realise that nobody can just say ‘I want to be a coach’ and become one. It’s a thankless job and you need passion for it. About the licensing system — I don’t believe you can do a course and become a coach. You have to have played. You have to have the experience.

So how do you motivate players to become coaches then?

It is for them to realise. It is easier for a player who hasn’t achieved everything to become a coach and achieve those goals. You cannot be selfish – like when you are as a player. Successful people find it tough to be coaches. Players who face more failure tend to be good coaches. I decided when I was 28-29. I was working through these programmes — weekend coaching sessions would be part of my contract — a minimum number of hours I had to spend at coaching. That gave me a feel for it and that needs to be inducted by the administrations and associations to encourage players to coach later.

How do you manage to keep players motivated for an event that happens every four years?

When players go through paces we need to tell them to do the right things. If you can get into the top eight, you can get to number one. Talking to them about these things and introducing something new training techniques is important – and that is tough.

Do you ask a player to prepare differently for the Olympics?

No. There are so many events prior to that and those are as important. You can’t think too ahead. It will all happen. We need to keep all tournaments at the same pedestal. We can’t be partial to the Olympics. You need to be consistent throughout the four years. There is no formula to help players peak at the right time. It has to be spontaneous. Sometimes we need to cut down on some training – concentrate on skills and so on. Lot of things happen – you cannot control how a player peaks. Coaches can plan but it will vary from player to player.

What sort of coach are you?

Hands on. Over the years I’ve matured a little more and take things more calmly and understand the pressures the players are under. When you are young you tend to think like a player but after experience that changes. I have been a member of the IBF (International Badminton Federation) and coached all over so I can gauge better and I try to combine European and Asian methods of coaching.

I want players to come and talk to me. To ask. To argue. To question what I can do better. You can’t teach everything – and players need to have a personality. You can’t come and stand and say ‘what can I do? What is the issue?’ I also want them to talk back. I want an active discussion – ’this is not working or this needs to change’. And you can make out as a coach whether this is genuine and not just for the sake of argument.

Are you at top of your coaching career?

Maybe I am – but I’m also getting old and physically I need to be there. I am okay, I feel good – but because Saina has given me the tag – and I am okay with it… but I want the player also to enjoy that. I want you to come tell me what you think is happening. What do you want? What are you looking at? She told me ‘you decide’ – and I said ‘you are at the top of the world and you need to decide too’. Think for youself.

Are you the No 1 coach in the country?

There are many good coaches. You cannot be that selfish or say that you are the best coach. You are only as good as your trainees. But you need to put philosophies into practice, achieve, get results and then you’ll get credit. I don’t do anything for money but at least I am my own boss. I’m not dictated to and that satisfaction I have.

Pulasta Dhar tweets @TheFalseNo9