“I’m good enough to play for another four years at the highest level,” says former World No.1 Kidambi Srikanth

‘I still believe that I am good enough to play for another four years at the highest level,” said former World No.1 and champion shuttler Kidambi Srikanth.

Speaking at the announcement of his partnership with Hundred sports brand, the 31-year-old Srikanth said he has been training really hard since the last two-and-a-half months and hopes to regain his winning touch soon.

“My immediate target is to do well in the Indonesian and the Malaysian Opens. Really want to do well. There are no fitness issues and raring to go,” said a confident Srikanth on the sidelines of the event.

The former World championship silver medallist said that he didn’t foresee any major challenges being there in the circuit for close to 15 years now.

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“I am conscious of the challenges which any athlete faces to be at the top. Yes, the standard of the game has gone up for sure but I don’t feel it is yet unreachable for me,” said a smiling Srikanth.

“Definitely I would love to be back at my best and make all the efforts needed to achieve that goal,” he said.

“Well, no one becomes a World No. 1 in any sport just like that. We in India have great talent and I am sure there will be many more No.1s in the future,” Srikanth said.

“In terms of infrastructure we are getting better and better and improved a lot since I started playing in 2010. But, again, everyone has to come together to support sports in a big way. We cannot only look at the Governments of India or the State or any other one company to do that. There has to be a collective effort to provide the desired impetus to sports,” he added.

Of Indian doubles players in badminton, Srikanth said it was a matter of great pride that both Sathwik and Chirag are ranked World No.1 and in women’s section, P. Gayathri Gopichand and Tressa Jolly are in the top 10 and even qualified for the BWF World Tour Finals late last year.

On his partnership with Hundred, Srikanth said that they would be organising a couple of exchange programmes for coaches and players with Asian powerhouses in badminton from this April to help the INdian shuttlers move into the next level.

Vishal Jain, Director of Hundred India, said Srikanth reflects in all aspects the aspirations and goals of the brand.