Santoso’s ideas provide a roadmap not only for individual improvements but also for a systemic change in the way India approaches the sport of badminton.
Renowned Indonesian coach <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2024/11/pv-sindhu-and-srikkanth-need-more-than-hard-work-lakshya-sen-and-rajawat-need-to-iron-out-inconsistencies-agus-santoso/" title="PV Sindhu and Srikkanth need more than hard work, Lakshya Sen and Rajawat need to iron out inconsistencies: Agus Santoso”>Agus Santoso, who has coached India’s best bowlers, has given a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Indian players. Drawing on his years of experience in global badminton, Santoso explains how Indian stars like PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat can overcome barriers to reach the next level.
Sindhu needs efficiency; Srikkanth requires stamina
Agus Santoso believes that to continue to compete effectively, PV Sindhu must move beyond her natural power and hard work to focus on strategic efficiency.
“Now it’s not about hard work; his game needs to become much more efficient. He already knows the strategy but relies heavily on physical strength. He needs to deepen his skill, stroke and strategy.” he told The Indian Express. According to Santoso, Sindhu’s game must evolve to avoid exhausting her energy on the pitch, an efficiency that legendary players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei have mastered.
As for Kidambi Srikanth, Santoso’s diagnosis is simple: “It needs more stamina. Much more.” Indian footwork, he points out, tends to be less energy efficient, which has led to players burning out quickly. Santoso sees a lack of consistency in Srikanth’s stamina which prevents him from maintaining peak performances during tournaments.
Beyond individual changes, Santoso highlights the need for greater ambition from Indian players. “Winning a title shouldn’t be the end goal. Chinese and Indonesian players always try to win more. This attitude needs to change for Indian players to consistently excel.” underlines.
Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat: Needed Skills and Adaptability
Agus Santoso also rates Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat, two emerging talents with great promise but notable weaknesses.
Santoso sees Lakshya Sen as a player with good defense but who lacks adaptability against better opponents. “He has a good defense, but if he faces a better rally player, he has difficulty. He’s not a complete player yet.” Santoso explains, stating that Sen must build a complete game to compete with various playstyles.
For Rajawat, Santoso is optimistic but cautious. “He is a very intelligent talent, full of intelligence. But against a better shooter, his control over the shuttlecock diminishes.” observe. Santoso suggests that while Rajawat has immense potential, staying injury-free and committing to a disciplined training regime will be essential to his development.
Santoso’s thoughts on the rising Indian doubles pair and their future prospects
Santoso was full of praise for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India’s best doubles pair, calling them “monsters” on the court for their height and skill. Despite his Olympic failures, he insists his playing style doesn’t need major changes and his only challenge is staying injury-free.
Finally, he mentions Anmol Kharb in women’s singles and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran in men’s singles as bright prospects. “Anmol is full of talent, but now the world will know her style and will have to adapt.” – emphasizes Santoso, underlining the importance of evolving as a player’s reputation grows.
Addressing shortcomings in badminton coaching in India
According to Santoso, Indian badminton training often lacks fundamentals in terms of grip, footwork and techniques. Contrast this with China’s unified approach, where training, injury management and training are streamlined on a single campus.
“China works as a coordinated system, while Indian academies tend to work independently. To improve, Indian education must match these global standards.” he advises.
Santoso’s ideas provide a roadmap not only for individual improvements but also for a systemic change in the way India approaches the sport of badminton.
