Just a week after finishing as runner-up at the India Open, world No 5 Peter Gade tells DNA that 2012 Olympics will be his last shy
It is your sixteenth year in top-flight badminton. What inspires you to keep going?
I’ve believed that I can always be better. And I feel a big motivation and inspiration for me is to want to get better. And I want to push my limits in the practice area everyday... day after day.
You may have lost the India Open Super Series final, but you won a lot of hearts.
I had a wonderful and memorable week in Delhi. I came close to leaving the tournament in the first round, then my game just got better match by match and I ended up playing a great tournament. A lot of people helped during the week because I was alone. The supporters were great from the quarterfinal.
Were you surprised with the vociferous support you got from the Indian crowd?
I know I have a lot of fans in India, but to actually experience it on court was a great feeling. I really enjoyed playing my matches.
What do you think went wrong in the third set?
Well, you’re playing the world No 1 and leading 6-2 in the third set. That’s pretty good. I think at that time in the match, I had the momentum, but unfortunately, it changed during the next couple of rallies — some of them really hard... and Chong Wei got the momentum turned around. I tried to get back at him and came close, but did not succeed.
How do you rate the first ever Super Series hosted in India?
I really enjoyed the tournament but at the same time, it’s obvious that this was the first time and I’m sure some things can be better next year.
Your career span of more than a decade means you have seen a lot of badminton. How much has the game changed?
Not easy to explain in a few words. Yes, for sure the game has changed, and to adapt to the changes you need to keep on developing yourself. We’ve had new scoring system along the way and this always applies for a lot of changes in the game one way or the other.
Who is better between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan?
Chong Wei and Lin Dan have been the best players for the past four to five years and are the players to beat if you want to win the big tournaments. Chong Wei is incredible on his best days but is much of a confidence player. Lin Dan may be the best player ever and when he’s prepared, he’s the best.
Who amongst the two has been a tougher opponent?
Both are tough and almost never have a bad day. If I have a very good day, I can beat them.
Olympics gold is missing from your cabinet, will 2012 be your last shy at it?
Yes.
How do you rate Saina Nehwal as a player? What does she need to do to get her act right?
She’s a hugely talented player and I’m happy she’s already able to take up the fight against the Chinese women’s singles. She needs to keep getting better at different areas such as footwork, speed etc. And she’s got wonderful qualities like power, attack and fighting strength.
You lost to P Gopichand in 2001 when he went on to win the All England title. Do you still discuss the game when you meet him?
Of course. We’re both very passionate about the game and it’s nice he’s still a big part of the game in coaching.
Why do you think India isn’t able to find good men’s singles players?
Well, men’s singles is really a tough sport and there’s a lot of good players, and thereby not easy to be among the best. You need to be 100 per cent committed to make the top eight and not just for one year but for many. India have many good and talented players with a lot of potential, we just need to see them break through in the top. They need to practice hard for many years and be totally professional both on and off court.
You are known to be a Liverpool fan, aren’t you upset with their results in the last few seasons?
Yes! It’s been a mess at the club the past couple of years but with Dalglish coming in, it could be a step in the right direction.
What do you do in your free time, when not training?
I’m very passionate about wine, cooking and music, they are all a big part of my daily life.
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