Bengaluru: Indian junior shuttlers have been intensively preparing at a national camp hosted by the Karnataka Badminton Association, ahead of the Badminton Asia U-17 & U-15 Junior Championship in Chengdu, China, from October 21. The camp focused on skill enhancement, fitness conditioning, and adapting to different playing conditions.
New shuttlecock introduced for U-15 category
The upcoming tournament will see U-15 players using NCS (New Carbon Sonic) PRO shuttlecocks, while the U-17 matches will continue with traditional feather shuttlecocks. “The NCS PRO shuttlecock is a new product and unavailable in India, but the Badminton Association of India (BAI) managed to get a few for the camp,” said BN Sudhakar, one of the seven coaches overseeing the training sessions.
The U-15 selection trials held in Haryana last month were conducted with regular feather shuttlecocks, making adaptation to the new variant crucial. The BAI received four boxes of the NCS PRO shuttlecocks before the start of the camp, with three more arriving on Friday.
Adapting to the lighter shuttlecock
The new shuttlecock is slightly lighter than traditional ones, which weigh between 4.5 to 5.5 grams, and travels a little slower. “The key lies in adapting to it. Defensive players can adjust quickly, while attacking players may take more time,” said Sudhakar.
Players shared their experiences during practice. Karnataka’s Sai Puskhar, a singles competitor, noted, “These shuttles are quite different from what we are used to. It can get a bit wobbly.” Maharashtra’s Sarayu Ranjane added, “Adapting is going to be a challenge. We practised with this shuttle for more than four days, and I noticed that it tends to drift a bit. I need to take that into account while playing.”
Coaches emphasise control and simplicity
Sankar Annamalai, a coach at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, is closely monitoring the preparations. He advised players to focus on controlling the shuttle rather than overcomplicating their techniques. “They should try out the dribble too. It can be challenging, but it isn’t only the Indian players; others also need to adjust. I have told the players to keep it simple and control the shuttle,” he said.
Camp concludes ahead of departure
The camp concluded on Saturday, with players now set to depart for Chengdu, China, fully prepared for the championships. Coaches remain optimistic that the exposure to the new shuttlecock and rigorous training will help Indian juniors perform strongly and aim for medals.