Like IPL, IBL should have a permanent date: Prakash Padukone

Former India shuttler Prakash Padukone – first to win All England Championship in 1980  – believes players should time their tournaments and take enough rest to be fit.

Padukone, also a brain behind Olympic Gold Quest – a non-profit sports organisation – told this correspondent, during the Tata Open India International Badminton Challenge, that Indian Badminton League should have a permanent date. Excerpts.

What do you think could be the reason behind less participation from foreign shuttlers this time at the Tata Open? The tournament usually has talented players from all over Asia.

I won’t know the exact reason but it is good to see active participation from India. Apart from the top two in singles– PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap and Srikanth Kidambi – almost all are here. It could also be that the major players are getting ready for next year. On top of that, Syed Modi International Badminton Championship has been moved to January 2015. For foreigners, coming to a country and playing two back-to-back tournaments on a different level is a challenge. We will have try and make it happen together to ensure better participation.

What makes Srikanth Kidambi – who beat Lin Dan recently to clinch China Open Super Series – a special player? What are his strong points?

He has come up as a player. He has a good mix of aggression and defence. His focus now should be to maintain the consistency. He would need to plan his tournaments, take enough rest and go for the kill. An all-round player.

How much of rest is enough for a player to be game-fit? There is usually not much gap between tournaments.

Two or three tournaments one after another is normal but not more than three. You got to take a break after that. But it also depends on the fitness level of a shuttler. If somebody trained well in the off-season, they can afford to take a chance playing more than three at one go. It is not fair to generalise but I feel players should take enough rest between tournaments.

The Indian Badminton League (IBL) which drew a lot of attention in 2013 did not happen this year. What do you think went wrong?

I heard it is finally happening in April 2015. But 2014 was an unusual year, there was no place for the tournament too with Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Championships, Thomas & Uber Cup all happening in a cycle.

Do you think holding the tournament in the tight schedule could affect participation?

I am not sure how good it would have been with so many tournaments happening around but I hope that Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirms a slot for IBL. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) and BWF can sit together, chalk out a permanent date for the best interests of the players. Like in cricket, Indian Premier League usually happens in April-May, there should be one fixed schedule for IBL. It will help the players plan as well.

One shuttler who you think could make a difference in Tata Open?

HS Prannoy. He is in good form, won the Indonesian Masters Grand Prix gold too. Even Ajay Jayaram is a contender for the title.

What can make India's doubles team stronger in the future? Lot has been said, but less has been done for improvement.

I’ve been saying this for a while now that we need separate camp for doubles. It is the immediate need if we have to improve. Select players from a young age (12 or 13) and specialise them with a coach, only for doubles. If we do this now, it will take us three to five years to gain some shape. I’m not saying we will be the best but we can do much better than what we are currently doing. Our strength and focus has always been in singles.

What is your reaction to Lee Chong Wei accused of anti-doping regulation violation?

It is unfortunate for the sport. I can’t really comment much for I am not sure what drug was it. What I read in the paper is that he took some medicine (which had dexamathasone) to treat an injury. Athletes, playing at the highest level, should be aware of what is allowed and what is not in their body, during a tournament.