Parupalli Kashyap and Kidambi Srikanth - Friends, but Rivals too
Less than a year ago, Parupalli Kashyap made history when he became the first Indian male badminton player to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. However, his younger compatriot Kidambi Srikanth's stunning China Open win towards the end of 2014, has made him Indian badminton's biggest talking point. The newly developing competition and rivalry between the two players can only be healthy for Indian badminton.
Parupalli Kashyap took off his shirt, screamed out in ecstasy, and threw his badminton racquet into the crowds, while taking a round of the Babu Banarsi Das Stadium in Lucknow in January this year. That's how much his tight 2-game win against compatriot Kidambi Srikanth in the final of the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold tournament meant to Kashyap.
"That win was just different. Yes, Srikanth was doing well. But just because he won a title doesn't mean I was gone. I had a point to prove, and I did that", Kashyap told NDTV, ahead of the fifth edition of the Indian Open Super Series tournament where he is unseeded. Srikanth, on the other hand, is the second seed.
It was never like this. But Kidambi Srikanth is no longer just a training partner for World No. 13 Kashyap. And there's every reason for it to be like this. Srikanth's straight games win against five-time World Champion and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan, at the China Open Super Series, was for many one of the greatest achievements by an Indian athlete across all sports, in recent times.
"It's encouraging for me. It makes things more competitive, and I enjoy it. In fact, I feel like I am improving," Kashyap said. "There's no jealousy as such, but yes, we are rivals. Anyone who is across the net is a rival for me, and Srikanth is not an exception", said the 28 year old.
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For the shy Srikanth, who gets called "Krish Srikanth" by mistake very often, his senior is someone he is still very respectful about. "He has been an inspiration for me too. It's difficult to be in the top 20 of the world rankings for 7-8 years, and he has done that", Srikanth told NDTV. "We still go out at times in Hyderabad, maybe for food, or a movie. But once we're on the badminton court, we both want to win"
After a string of injuries, the fit again Kashyap, can't wait to have a go at the younger Srikanth, given an opportunity.