The last time Kidamdi Srikanth went home to Guntur was two months back. And his parents still complains that the shuttler could hardly spend a day with them.
Srikanth though, knows that this will all end if he returns with a good performance at the Rio Olympics, which is just couple of weeks away.
“Right now, my sole focus is the Olympics. I will get ample time to spend with my parents once I make my country proud. I know it’s going to be difficult as everyone will come with their best strategy but I’m ready for every challenge... I have to do well and I will. I am just excited,” Srikanth told this paper from Hyderabad.
The 23-year-old, who will lead India’s men’s challenge at his 1st Olympics, admitted that he hadn’t had a good season but hoped Rio would be different. Srikanth struggled in the initial rounds of tournaments especially after winning the Syed Modi GP Gold in January.
“I didn’t get much time to train until last month as I was playing back to back tournaments. Now I have got a good time to push myself hard. I am more confident now.”
On his preparations, Srikanth said he was doing the same things in training but diligently.
“I am working on all areas of my game. But endurance and accuracy are two I am stressing on. I am playing the same strokes, may be a smash, again and again until I get it right. My movement (to get the right strokes) is another area in focus. Everything is related to the other, if I am quicker than I can go for a good stroke,” explained the world no. 10, who won a Super Series Premier title in the 2014 China Open.
Srikanth picked old war-horses Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan as favourites for the men’s title. “They have a lot of experience, that gives an advantage at Rio. I will go into the event without any pressure,” he added.
‘No clear winner’ Chief national coach Pullela Gopichand believes that it will all boil down to a “couple of good matches” at Rio. He stressed, “condition, situation and pressure” will play a major role at the Games. “I have seen strange things happen because of pressure. We have good preparation and we will give it our best shot. I believe we have a good chance.”
Compared to the London Games where Saina Nehwal bagged bronze from among five shuttlers, Gopichand said the country would have multiple chances this time around.
“We don’t have a clear winner, as many players around the world are at the same level,” he pointed out, adding that “inconsistency” of shuttlers of late will not matter.
On how ready debutantes Srikanth and P.V. Sindhu were mentally ahead of the Games, the coach added: “I can only say they are getting ready.”
