Mumbai: Retired Danish badminton legend Peter Gade lauded new age Indian badminton stars Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu for their respective feats at various championships to bring the sport on the Indian map. Gade, 40, hanged his boots in 2012 with 22 grand-prix titles in his bag staying at the top world rank on many occasions. He was present here for ‘Yonex Legends Vision’ tour. The Danish veteran is impressed by India’s performances on the big stage. “Sindhu won silver in Olympics and Srikanth won superseries. India is able to produce results on such a big level so I think there could be something big soon,” said Gade. “I think we have seen big change in the variety of badminton in India. Performances of Saina, Sindhu and Srikanth have helped the game grow. In India, it is because of them that the game has escalated,” he further added.
Top players Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei and Lee Yong Dae are stirred by Srikanth’s emergence to the top ranks naming him the future star of Asian badminton. “Asians have won big titles and young players like Srikant are waiting after us to put up great matches and great fights. In the next Olympics, there will be people from Asia winning. It’s nice to see a player like Srikant and I know there are more players like him in India but they will still have a hard time beating players like him (Lin Dan),” quipped Lee Chong Wei.
