Shun govt support: Vimal

MUMBAI: It's time India's top badminton players start believing in themselves and turn professional like tennis players and not rely on government funding to excel at the international level, feels former India coach Vimal Kumar. Strongly advocating the idea on sidelines of the sixth edition of the Open International Challenge here, the former two-time national champion said, "There is a lot in favour of players these days in terms of support and they should understand how being on their own can help them achieve higher goals at the international level.People in India are generally resistant to being on their own, but their approach needs to change." For someone who was once in the Top 20 in the 1980s and paid from his own pocket to play in tournaments in Europe and South East Asia, Vimal is also of the view that only a very few can think of taking this route.
He didn't name the players, but it is obvious that only the likes of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu or Parupalli Kashyap fall in this bracket.
Explaining his view point, Vimal said, "Unlike before, badminton players in India today are much better off. They get good sponsorships, are employed by good companies, the Badminton Association of India supports them and they also get good backing from the government through the ministry of sports. They should travel overseas on govt support only while representing India in Thomas and Uber Cups or the Olympics. For open tournaments, they should be on their own." But how will this help? "They can choose the tourneys they want to play in and hire their own coach, trainer or physio. More importantly, they should also draw up their own calendar and make a base overseas to practise with single-minded focus like a Roger Federer or a Rafael Nadal does. This will ensure that they stay away from the unwanted appointments back home which could prove distracting," opined Vimal.
About the expenses involved, the former player says it will hardly be a fraction of what they would earn with top results. "The prize money and eventual endorsements would fetch them far more money. Some Indian players are already making good money and an annual expense of Rs 20 or 25 lakh would be nothing compared to what they would earn."
Vimal's idea was endorsed by former All England champion Prakash Padukone, who once made Sweden and Denmark his base when he was at the peak of his game. "I agree with the idea. It is up to a player to make that call. This will help them appoint personal staff, including trainers and psychologists. "The top players are the ones who should make a start as they can afford it. The results would show what they can achieve. More importantly, the BAI and the government should also extend all possible help to such players by way of clearances and entries in open tournaments. The players should, however, take care of their own expenses except when they represent the national team," Padukone said.
The suggestion wasn't welcomed by some others in the badminton fraternity, but as Vimal himself reckons, "It's a debatable idea and it will take some understanding before we produce real pros."