INDIA’S WIN ADDS FRESH IMPETUS
INDIA’s recent Thomas Cup triumph will boost the stature of the sport and build up a large reservoir of players to ensure continuity and consistency in the future. India has a long history of badminton, having been introduced to the sport by the British.
The Indians preferred stroke play rather than smash. George Lewis, Nandu Natekar, Dinesh Khanna and Prakash Padukone were all stylish stroke players unlike the Indonesians, Malaysians and the Chinese, who specialised in jumping smashes.
The Danes had a combination of both styles. Indian badminton players have done well individually in the Commonwealth Games, the All England and Asian Games.
In the team games like the Thomas Cup , however, they did not have sufficient depth until recently.
Nowadays, much importance has been given to the doubles teams by Danish coach Mathias Boe. For example, if the first Indian doubles had faltered, it would have been an uphill task beating Indonesia and winning the Thomas Cup.
The Indian government is now spending more on sports programmes.
With the Thomas Cup win, there could be a windfall also from corporate advertisements and sponsorships for badminton in a cricket-crazy nation, where even hockey loses out in popularity and funding.
India has won three world Cups — hockey, cricket and now in badminton. This should raise the sports profile of the nation, which has long been ridiculed for its low achievements in sports.
BWF under its president, Poul- Erik Hoyer Larsen, is very much changeoriented,whichisgoodforbadminton worldwide. Now, three new nations have won the Thomas Cup for the first time — Japan, Denmark and India.
In the Uber Cup, South Korea wrested the trophy from the mighty Chinese team. At this rate of progress,
South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore could be Thomas Cup contenders.
In Europe, England needs to revive its badminton fortunes, especially with the advantage of its large number of Asian migrants.
The rise of Spanish superstar Carolina Marin offers much hope for European nations like Germany and the Netherlands for their play
ers to do well at least individually in the increasing number of badminton tournaments worldwide.
BWF could also look into the possibility of holding an annual World Badminton Club tournament to provide an impetus and recognition for badminton clubs.
There are many independent players and clubs worldwide.
This initiative will popularise badminton
and provide opportunities for younger players who have been sidelined by the national associations due to quota and other reasons.
Winning the club tournament should be regarded as prestigious as winning any other international badminton titles.
V. THOMAS
Sungai Buloh, Selangor