One of the rub-offs of the success of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in doubles is a bunch of younger-paired shuttlers starting to aim high. As soon as the possibility of an Olympic qualification was dangled in front of Tanisha Crasto, the formerly laidback 20-year-old got her act together. Her off-court habits – sleep and food-related – have wisened up. And she’s considerably calmer on court, helped by Ashwini Ponnappa’s composed presence.
The year’s final month has seen Tanisha enter the Top 25 in doubles rankings with Ashwini, and the rejigged pair of Tanisha and Dhruv Kapila win their first minor title in mixed, raising hopes of a strong headway in a category where Indians haven’t quite taken off since Jwala Gutta-V Diju left the scene a decade ago.
Tanisha had a blossoming partnership with Ishaan Bhatnagar, before the latter was felled by a nasty ACL injury at the last Nationals. While Bhatnagar is scheduled to return in February, Tanisha was paired with Dhruv, who too was awaiting the return of his own doubles partner MR Arjun, out with injury.
“It was the decision of the coaches to pair us up after the Asian Games. Hopefully, we build on the Odisha title over the next 2-3 years. We are looking at it step by step but hope it’s a long-term partnership,” Dhruv says, happy with his third tournament week yielding a title run with Tanisha.
National doubles coach Arun Vishnu says it will be entirely Tanisha’s call whether to continue with Dhruv or rekindle her partnership with Bhatnagar. “Depending on what she is comfortable with,” he says.
While Arun reckons Ashwini-Tanisha have as good a chance of making the Paris cut as Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, there is excitement and a lot of silent work that has gone into grooming Tanisha as a mixed doubles prospect. It’s an event better suited to her combative style.
“She’s naturally a mixed doubles player,” Arun says. Her strokes are aggressive, the movement is always geared forward, and her conversions and interceptions at the net are much improved over this season.
Earlier, Tanisha used to hare after every shuttle, almost stabbing at it. But she’s playing it far more smartly now, with oodles of variations in her serve.
Taking every chance
While her combination with K Sai Pratheek didn’t quite get going after Bhatnagar was wheeled off the court at the Pune Nationals, Dhruv has taken his chances whenever thrown into the pit.
The tall shuttler has impressive variations from the back court, his drives are pacy and relentless and his defence reliable. “Till now, I’ve focused on the back court. There’s potential to improve a lot in the forecourt,” Dhruv says.
He will resume his partnership with MR Arjun at the Guwahati Nationals. Though they have more or less been considered India’s No.2, the pairing will have to make a charge towards the national title, soon after Arjun resumes, and will have to prove themselves on the criteria set out by BAI as India looks to defend its Thomas Cup title. “We are pretty sure we will bounce back and be in the Top 20 soon,” Dhruv stresses.
While Dhruv won some good matches, including beating a Chinese pair alongside Shetty, it is in sparring with Satwik-Chirag that Dhruv-Arjun have seen their experience swell. “Arjun, Chirag, Satwik have been seniors, and I’ve learnt plenty from them. But it’s always a good thing to play against them daily, and help them before tournaments and in practice to improve our own game,” Dhruv says.
Winning Super 300s & 500s is top priority for 2024. “I will take a decision on what to focus on, mixed or doubles, only by the end of next season,” he says.
Arun is mighty pleased with how Ashwini and Tanisha have progressed into the Top 25 within a season. “It’s good that both our women’s doubles pairings are pushing each other,” he says.
He firmly believes that Treesa-Gayatri will make a solid move up by the same time next year, and will take a couple of more seasons to become Top 5 material. “They must be the youngest pair in the Top 20 right now. After Paris, a lot of existing pairs will get phased out, but realistically Treesa-Gayatri will be at their peak by ’23-24. It’s unfortunate Gayatri had the injury but they will start fresh in January. Even now, they can beat anyone in the Top 8,” Arun maintains.
Season gains for Sai Pratheek
It’s a silent surge in doubles, with lots of mixing and matching, and K Sai Pratheek finds himself paired with Krishna Prasada Garaga, as India looks for depth in men’s doubles to ensure Satwik-Chirag aren’t a one-off.
Son of a footballer from Bengaluru, Sai Pratheek swapped the field game for an indoor sport after an injury at age 11 at a summer camp. He played all three categories as a junior, but a move to Hyderabad has seen him focus on doubles.
Hostel life has been a tough adjustment, but being picked for the Hyderabad academy eased some of the financial strains of travel and choosing tournaments as a junior. “I have to play tournaments, and win quite a bit to prove myself,” says the doubles finalist from Odisha. “It means no off-days from practice.” The 23-year-old has much to improve technically in terms of drives and high lifts, but plays with a lot of grit.
While his mixed plans with Ashwini didn’t quite take off, he hopes to rise through the ranks in men’s doubles, and is biding his time till Bhatnagar returns. Thomas Cup selections will see a proper jostle amongst the men’s pairings. While India waits with bated breath to see if Satwik-Chirag can deliver the Olympic doubles medal – “a gold is what we are all hoping for,” Arun says – the country’s next rung in doubles has found a platform in 2023 from where they will look to start launching into higher orbit in the coming year.
2023-12-20 03:21:30
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