Kidambi Srikanth takes a step in right direction

But it’s the Nehwal-consistency — she’s been top 10 for 6 seasons now, top 5 for more than half that time — that is considered the gold standard for singles shuttlers in the country, and Srikanth will need to live up to those rigorous standards to carve himself a niche that the 24-year-old Olympic medallist enjoys.

Nehwal was ruthless beating USA’s Beiwen Zhang 21-16, 21-13 on rankings-day Thursday, and will be up against Taiepei’s tenacious sixth seed Tai Tzu Ying. However, it is Srikanth’s steady march into the last 8 at the Hong Kong Open where he meets local lad Wei Nan that will be closely followed as will his progress in the coming season to judge just how far he can leap from this springboard that he’s earned for himself from that famous victory against Lin Dan last weekend.

Srikanth’s not the first male singles shuttler since coach Gopichand to make the top 10. P Kashyap got up to No. 6 in April 2013, but couldn’t cling on for too long. “Top 10 was expected from Srikanth because he’s always had the game for that level and has played some good matches last year. But top 5 is the real deal,” says former international Aravind Bhat, who was top 20 in 2009 and has watched shuttlers struggle to make that last ascent to the peak.

“To maintain top 10 is very tough. And now, like Saina, he’ll need to hold onto that, and then aim for the first five,” he says. Bhat is optimistic about Srikanth reaching out for much more, keeping the top 10 as a mere platform, not the eventual goal.

“I’ve seen him, and he’s beaten me twice in close games and his game is encouraging,” Bhat says, adding that it’s the atypicality that sets Srikanth apart from not just the rest of the Indians but also most shuttlers around the world. “In a 15-all tense situation in the decider, Srikanth is not your typical player and nothing like the Chinese or Indonesians who will stick to the set gameplans and go for consistency shots,” he explains.

Smart moves

For someone who’s lost out to Srikanth from 15-15, Bhat’s insights into his opponent are indicative of the high respect the Hyderabad-based boy garners from his peers. “At 15-all, most others if you give the shuttle high, they’ll plain smash it. But Srikanth at that stage will play the slow drops or suddenly rush the net and enforce the kill. He has the surprise element and is a bit more explosive in that situation. Just fractionally, but enough to close out games. He steps it up at the juncture where other Indians falter, and mixes it up with footwork and his hands,” he says, clearly impressed.

While it’s the huge smash which Srikanth can follow up with the kill at the net when he whizzes forward that has thoroughly won over Bhat, it is also his supreme fitness which leads to the boost in the crucial games that has caught the eye of the senior.

He sees neither a downside of complacency, nor a temperament flaw in dealing with the fame. “Srikanth won the Nationals at 20 — one of the youngest to. And he’d also won the Thailand Open. Neither achievements got to his head or made him complacent, so no worries there,” he reassures. Bhat reckons that Srikanth’s best trait is that he’s aloof and hence virtually uninfluenced.

“He keeps to himself and I’ve seen he doesn’t mix with anyone. There’s no ‘hanging out’. Maybe he’s friends with the doubles players, but none of his competitors. That’s important. Our generation, we were all pally and toured together, which had its ups. But not mixing with players you’ll come up against on court can keep you sharp,” Bhat says.

Injuries will be a major test – if and when they happen, and prevention will be a priority. Bhat’s watched the last giant-killer of note from India, and state-mate Anup Sridhar battle a few. “Anup had a great win against Taufik Hidayat and had beaten Hafiz Hisham too. Even Kashyap’s beaten Chen Long (World No. 2) after the latter’s All England win. But Srikanth is special because winning a tournament is always massive.” Beating Lin Dan to win the tournament should make No. 10 just the starting point to greater things to come.