NEW DELHI, May 11 (PTI) Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Indian superstar Kidambi Srikanth has hired an Indonesian coach to help him improve his game ahead of next year’s tournament.

The qualifying period for the 2024 Olympics started on May 1 and Srikanth, who is struggling with his fitness, enlisted the services of Wiempie Mahardi to help him train.

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“I have been trying to get a coach since December 2021 when Agus left. Now I have an Indonesian coach, Wimpy Nahardi. I met him when I went to Indonesia to train for three weeks. He came to India last week in April,” former world number one Srikanth said in a statement. for PTIs.

India has not appointed a foreign coach for the men’s singles players since the sudden departure of Agus Dwi Santoso from India in December 2021. After PV Sindhu parted ways with Park Tae Sang in February, the Korean player helped the men’s singles players.

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“I tried to get the coaches through TOPS, but it didn’t work. In January I submitted an SAI offer and it has since been put on hold. Because the Olympic qualifying period also starts in May, I can’t do it. ‘Don’t hold out any longer,’ Srikanth said. That, so I decided to do it myself.

A former world top 25 player, Mahardy has over 10 years of coaching experience coaching players for various clubs in various countries.

Srikanth achieved unprecedented success in 2017 when Indonesian coach Mulyo Handoyo took on the coaching responsibilities. The Indians won four titles that season. Another Indonesian coach Agus Doi Santoso impacted him when he joined the Indian national team in 2020.

“I don’t think it (the personal trainer) will work for everyone, but it has worked for me in the past. When Mulio was there I did very well and Agus was there I did very well. So this Indonesian style worked. for me, that’s why I need a coach.

“It’s not easy to play without a coach, I mean, it’s the minimum requirement for a player,” the Baseline Ventures-managed player said.

However, Srikanth did not have time to train with his new coach as he was taking part in the Asian Games selection trials. He finished in first place with six wins in as many matches to qualify for the individual event.

“I couldn’t really train with him because after I came back from the Asian Badminton Championships I didn’t have time. I only had two days before the trial and two days after the trial. After the next Asian event, I hope to have time to train with him.

Srikanth has endured a turbulent 2023, managing just one quarter-final in seven tournaments, which saw his ranking drop from 13th to 22nd in the world.

“I’ve played well in the last few games, but I can’t win in these close games. Once I start doing that, it will make a big difference. Let’s see what I can take away from the next four tournaments I will participate.”

“Badminton is also changing, there will be someone coming to take over and people will have to find an alternative formula.”

Srikanth won a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships before leading India to a historic Thomas Cup victory last year.

“You did very well in 2021 and 2022 until the Commonwealth Games and then the other games slowly start to improve and maybe you just hang on. You have to keep improving, and that’s also a important reason to have a coach,” he said.

With only the top 20 players entered in the Asian Games, the 30-year-old tennis player from Guntur, seeded 22, had to participate in the selection process for the first time.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve taken part in the trial edition of the Asian Games. I’m fine as long as there are strict rules. Of course, it’s a bit tiring, because there are some time ago I played two games in one day.” “said Srikanth.

“Young players won’t feel it but it’s hard for me to play two games. When I was 19-20 I was playing 5-6 games a day, my body could take the weight but I couldn’t. The body is going through it now The Olympic qualifying period has also started which is a challenge for the players.

Next up for Srikanth is the Sudirman Cup, a mixed team tournament that kicks off in Suzhou, China from May 14.

“We have a strong team, but we have to perform like we did in the Thomas Cup. I think we have a better team. In previous years we played good singles matches and then we lost in doubles. This time we had very strong singles and doubles,” he said.

The draw was made between India, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Australia in Group C.

“Last time at the Thomas Cup every game Satwick and Girag won made a big difference. In most of the last Sudirman Cups we’ve lost a lot 3-2, that’s pretty much a double win against a team like Malaysia, Taipei, Japan or Korea, so they will make a big difference.

“With the men’s and women’s doubles doing so well, he definitely gave us a better chance this time around.”

(This is an unedited story auto-generated from a syndicated newsfeed, staff may not have edited or edited the content)