Sport - Badminton   

Ensure a strong base, advices Yong Yi

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE Nov. 15. The former National coach of China, Jiang Yong Yi called on the game's administrators in the country, to ensure a strong base for badminton. Only a proper foundation can produce talented players at regular intervals and make India a power to reckon with, felt Yi, in a chat with The Hindu.

The Chinese coach, who is also the vice-president of the Shaghai Badminton Association, was here at the invitation of BPL-Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy for two weeks before leaving for home. Yi praised the Indian players' talent, but advised them to develop an all round ability. "Indians are wrist players and they have their physical limitations, they should concentrate on improving their stamina and develop good skills in attack and defence. Though I have not seen many your National players, barring Gopi Chand and few others in international tournaments, I feel they have good potential," Yi said.

He praised the PPBA for its efforts in developing the game and its coaching programme, but he wished the BAI too would initiate steps to create a vast pool of junior players. Yi also advised the Indian players to concentrate in both the singles and doubles, as the latter plays an important role in team events. Another important aspect he stressed on was improving the quality of the coaches in the country.

Yi said the economic reforms in China in the last decade proved beneficial for the game in the country and badminton, which solely depended on government support, now has private sponsors all over China.

He was very confident that, though many nations have made advances in the game, China will continue to be dominant power in the world with its sheer volume of quality players.

Yi, however, regretted the fact that the game has not spread far and wide in the world and felt that International Badminton Federation should look at ways to make it popular and a more spectator-friendly sport.

"We went back to old scoring pattern, after experimenting with seven points. But nobody loves to watch a tie, which drags on for over an hour. The game has to made attractive for the sponsors and for TV audience only then will big money come into the game," Yi said.

Yi said that he was highly satisfied with his stint with PPBA and he would love to come back again.

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