I have always done well under pressure: P Kashyap

You celebrated in style after beating K Srikanth to win the Syed Modi Grand Prix title in January. What spurred you to take your shirt off?
During that tournament, I happened to read a couple of newspapers and I didn't like what was written about me. Most people wrote me off. I was playing well. I feel I am at my peak. Even though I lost a few tournaments, I reached at least the quarterfinal or semifinal. But still stuff was written about me. I needed to tell them that it was not yet time to write me off. I needed to remind them that I was still playing at the highest level. It wasn't anything personal against Srikanth obviously. He played excellent badminton to get to the final. I think I took the final as an opportunity to show that I was still good. Every one thought that my game wasn't close to Srikanth because he beat Lin Dan. I was feeling bad about that so I guess I had to prove a point. Taking off the shirt was just spontaneous. I just thought that after the Commonwealth Games, people liked me taking off my shirt, so I just did it.

What's your equation with Srikanth?
He's just a competitor for me. He's quite a few years junior to me and I've seen him from the time he started (training) at the academy (Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad). We're just colleagues and training partners. It's an individual sport, so you can't be anything more than that.

Do you motivate each other?
I encourage him when we train together. He doesn't tell me what to do because he treats me like a senior. He's not part of my group. He has a different group because he's much younger that me. But I do advise them when we train together. That's why Prannoy (Kumar) and Srikanth have a lot of respect for me. I try to help them improve. They have watched me play for three or four years now. I broke into the top 10 two years ago. So it seemed believable for them to reach that level. They believed that if Kashyap can, they can too.

And what do you learn from them?
Honestly, I learn a lot. Each one has a different style of playing. There's Prannoy who's aggressive. Srikanth has a more relaxed way of playing. I learn not only from my mistakes, but theirs too.

You've been the golden boy of Indian badminton for the last five years. Do you sometimes feel the burden of expectations?
No, on the contrary, I've always done well under pressure. I feel good that people are taking time out to watch me play. I play better when people want me to win. It motivates me.

By beating Chen Long in the Indonesia Open Superseries Premier, you became the only Indian after P Gopichand to beat a World No. 1. Can you take us through that match? How did it feel to beat the best player in the world after being a game down?
I was feeling confident in that tournament. I was having a good run. But he started well. He was confident too. Honestly, I was very confused. I didn't know how to approach the match. The last time I played him in Malaysia (Malaysia Open on April 2, 2015), he beat me very badly (10-21, 6-21). So after (losing) the first game (14-21), I decided to go all out. I was hitting very hard and was able to move very fast. At 16-13 in the second game, I felt I could win the match. He didn't expect me to play so well. And that's where he lost he match (21-14, 17-21, 14-21).

But then you lost in the semifinal to Kento Momota...
Mind you, he's a very tough opponent. I thought I was in control throughout the match. I made a couple of mistakes towards the end and paid heavily for that.

You posted just a teary-eyed emoticon on Twitter...
Yeah, the loss hurt me a lot. I was very upset. I couldn't get it out of my mind. I really believed that I could have won that tournament. I felt I was playing better than the three other semifinalists. But sometimes, it's about controlling the situation better. I didn't do that. I was leading so I was excited to finish the match fast. I should have relaxed a little more.

You've never reach a final of a Superseries tournament. You've lost in seven semifinals. What do you need to do to break that jinx?
I guess I don't need to think about it. I think I'm giving it too much weightage. And I need to just let go.

You're being supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. How important are organisations like these?
They're extremely important. The government has been funding me very well, but when it comes to personal care, you need organisations like this. Especially when you need things urgently. Because the government isn't that quick. So when you need simple things like tapes for an injury, OGQ provides them immediately. That's apart from providing me with a physio, taking care of my nutrition and getting my health check-ups done.

You have pulled out of next month's Chinese Taipei Open. You will now feature in the BWF World Championships in August. How are you preparing for it?
I'm taking care of my body. I want to make sure I don't get injured because obviously I'm not getting any younger. I think that if I can stay away from any injury, I can go for the title.

KASHYAP IN 2015
All England Open: Lost to Chou Tien Chen in Round 2
India Open: Lost to Xue Song in Round 2
Malaysia Open: Lost to Chen Long in Round 2
Singapore Open: Lost to Hu Yun in Semifinal
Asia Championships: Lost to Wang Zhengming in Round 3
Sudirman Cup: Lost to Son Wan Ho Round 1
Australian Open: Lost to Wang Zhengming in Round 1
Indonesia Open: Lost to Kento Momota in Semifinal