Report: Parupalli Kashyap confirms retirement plans, set to move to coach Kidambi Srikanth

Published at :January 10, 2024 at 1:07 PM

Modified at :January 10, 2024 at 1:07 PM

(Courtesy : The Economic Times)

He was seen in the coach’s corner in Kidambi Srikanth’s match at Malaysia Open 2024.

One of India’s most decorated badminton players, Parupalli Kashyap, has revealed that he is planning to retire from the sport soon and switch to coaching full-time. The 37-year-old, who won the gold medal in men’s singles at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and reached the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympics, said that he will consult with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Himanta Sarma, his employer Indian Oil Corporation, sponsors Yonex and other stakeholders before making an official announcement.

Kashyap, who has been struggling with injuries and form in recent years, was seen in the coach’s corner for his former teammate and friend Kidambi Srikanth at the season-opening Malaysia Open 2024 tournament. Srikanth, who is currently ranked 24th in the world, pulled off a stunning upset over World No. 5 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the first round, thanks to Kashyap’s guidance and support.

Kashyap told The Indian Express, “The injuries are forcing me to quit though I haven’t officially announced retirement. Meantime, I wanted to start working with Gopi sir because it would be foolish not to learn from his experience. I started with a batch of U-17 and U-19s for a month, and he gave me the freedom to coach whoever I wanted to. Then Srikanth approached me to help him, and I’m thankful to Gopi Sir for allowing me to work with Srikanth.”

Kashyap, who was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2012, has had a remarkable career as a player winning multiple titles and beating some of the best players in the world. He was one of Gopichand’s first students, along with Saina Nehwal and Guru Sai Dutt, and was part of the golden generation of Indian men’s singles players who challenged the dominance of China and other Asian countries.

Indian Sports Live Coverage on Khel Now

Kashyap has a rich repertoire of skills and tactics, as well as a strong physical and mental game, which he displayed in his memorable victories over top players. He also reached a career-high ranking of world number six in 2013 and was the icon player for the Indian Badminton League team, Banga Beats, in the 2013 edition.

Kashyap, who is married to fellow badminton star Saina Nehwal, said that his vision as a coach is to produce more champions for India, but added that it is ultimately up to the players to execute their plans. He said that he is looking forward to learning from Gopichand’s experience and sharing his knowledge with the next generation of shuttlers. He also said that he is enjoying his new role and hopes to make a positive impact on the Indian badminton scene.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram