FIND NEW WAYS TO WIN AT ASIAD: VIMAL TO SHUTTLERS

New Delhi, Aug. 12: Former India coach Vimal Kumar feels that Kidambi Srikanth and H.S. Prannoy need to have an alternative plan when put under pressure if they want to win medals at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia.

Srikanth lost in straight games to ageing Malaysian Daren Liew, while Prannoy went down to unheralded Igor Coelho of Brazil to crash out of the World Championship at the pre-quarterfinals stage.

“I am really disappointed with Srikanth and Prannoy. They need to find consistency. You need to play differently when something doesn’t work. They are not being able to do that. Both of them are attacking players and when things go differently, they are not able to cope. That have to make that adjustment,” Kumar said.

What has disappointed Kumar is that Srikanth couldn’t capitalise on Lee Chong Wei’s absence from the World Championship.

“Srikanth should have capitalised as Chong Wei’s pulling out opened the bottom half of the draw. Liew didn’t have any big result. Sometimes, you can take a game from a top player but he is not of the same level as Prannoy or Srikanth. So it was not a good result for Srikanth,” the former national coach added.

“But anything can happen at the Asian Games, because the top level badminton players play with such indifferent form, no one is playing anything special except Momota.”

The 55-year-old Kumar, who had guided Saina Nehwal to World No. 1 during his three years stint with her, said the standard of men’s singles was very poor at the World Championship and with little more consistency, Indian shuttlers can do well at Asian Games.

I am really disappointed with Srikanth and Prannoy. They need to find consistency. — VIMAL KUMAR Former national badminton coach