TIL Desk Sports/ Former All England champion Prakash Padukone tipped PV Sindhu to be the world number one in the near future, but Saina Nehwal’s coach Vimal Kumar was of the view that both the Olympic medallists could dominate world badminton in the next 5-7 years.
While Saina became the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal – a bronze – at 2012 London Olympics, Sindhu did one better by winning a historic silver at the Rio Games this year. “Definitely, Sindhu is capable of reaching the number one place,” Padukone told reporters at the Olympic Gold Quest workshop for junior athletes in Bengaluru. However, Vimal had a different view.
“I cannot comment on that (whether Sindhu can race past Saina en route the number one position). Yes, Sindhu would be a good competition for Saina. In the next five to six years, they are both likely to dominate the world badminton.” Vimal is happy that Saina’s leg is holding up. “If she can continue that then she can be back to her winning ways. She can look at winning big tournaments again. That is what I am looking at now,” he said.
