Shuttler Siddharth Thakur keeping it simple

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Thakur’s father has been his inspiration and help, even now when the Maharashtra team player trains at the Toms Badminton Academy in Bangalore.

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Published: Mon 15 Jun 2015, 1:44 PM

Last updated: Thu 9 Feb 2023, 1:17 PM

Dubai: Upcoming Indian badminton player Siddharth Thakur reckons the simple elements of the game makes all the difference in competitions. The 20-year old is quiet and slightly shy but once into a conversation is quickly into his usual self — full of energy and ideas.

At the 38th India Club super league badminton which got over during the weekend, we came to know him as a polite yet confident player whose goal now is to become the next generation champion in Indian badminton and perhaps one day, a top 10 name on the international circuit.


“My ranking now after more consistency at the higher levels has reached 10-12 on the Indian circuit after the initial days of being a regular India top 10 among the juniors,” said Thakur whose performances in the Syed Modi GP event in India and the qualifiers of the Indian Open Superseries earlier this season showed his potential.

“I realised the level I am in at the moment especially after the final round exit at the last Superseries in India where I lost narrowly the the privilege to play in the main draw. The experience exposed the level that I am in at the moment,” added Thakur. He continued: “The first and most important thing for all of us to realise is the main element of what makes the Chinese and the top internationals so strong. They stick to the basics without doing any extra stuff that actually cuts down heavily on the energy and staying levels. The main ploy should be to keep the approach as simple as possible.


“The Chinese especially don’t go for unnecessary attacks and flat trajectory lines but they keep the shuttle well within the inside at all times with safety aspects as priorities. They increase and decrease on the speed throughout, and go for the kill from the smallest of mistakes by the opponents.”

Thakur’s father has been his inspiration and help, even now when the Maharashtra team player trains at the Toms Badminton Academy in Bangalore. “My father, an engineer, is so deeply involved in my badminton. He is so supportive, encouraging me to play sport of any kind and even today helps me financially. I have finished my second year B.Com studies as well in Nasik where my home is right now because of my father’s posting from Mumbai.

“Perhaps after graduation I will be eligible for a good job with a company that promotes the game in India,” said Thakur who was early on spotted by the Gopichand Pullela Academy as a promising under 16. About his first trip to the UAE and on the quality of the hova covered courts at the venue here, he said: “I find Dubai so well organised and very clean. This is a great city and the short time I have spent here as an invited player has been memorable. The people are helpful and the playing conditions at India Club are very good.”


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