We play against young boys to get used to tougher opponents: Kamilla Rytter Juhl

Kamilla Rytter Juhl does not focus on mixed doubles now-a-days. It is women's doubles for the 32-year-old from Denmark. Along with Christinna Pedersen, Juhl is world No. 2 in women's doubles rankings.

However, it is in mixed doubles that the six-foot tall shuttler is seen in action currently in India, turning out for Mumbai Rockets in the ongoing Premier Badminton League.

Having begun the PBL with a win alongside Russian Vladimir Ivanov here against Awadhe Warriors that included her regular partner Pedersen, she lost to Chennai Smashers Topguns the next day. After sitting out against Bengaluru Topguns, she again teamed up with Ivanov to post her second win in Hyderabad on Monday.

Hyderabad is one place she holds dear to her heart. It was there that she registered her biggest career win – gold in mixed doubles event of the World Championships in 2009 along with Thomas Laybourn. “I like to be back in India. I won my biggest result here in 2009 and right now, I am sitting in the same stadium. That's special for me,” Juhl told dna in an exclusive chat.

Juhl and Pedersen are the only women's doubles players from Denmark constantly playing the circuit. Having all but sealed the Rio Olympic qualification by virtue of their rankings, Juhl said she was looking forward to the Games.

“We are the only ladies doubles qualified from Denmark. We just have to keep our position in the world rankings. We also want to do well in other tournaments like the All England. We want to win there. Of course, it is always special to participate in the Olympics and we look forward to that,” Juhl said.

Twice she was runners-up at the All England Badminton Championships – 2005 and 2012 in mixed doubles with Laybourn. She is keen to win that elusive yellow metal at the prestigious tournament in Birmingham.

“Having been in two finals of All England, I really want to take that final step. It is a big tournament for us. It is always special to play in the All England. It means much more for us to win the All England than the European Championships. Of course, I am proud to be a European champion but I am much more proud to do well in big, Superseries tournaments,” she said.

At 32, and Pedersen 29, they are really fighting fit to face the younger opponents from other countries to stay at the top.

“There is a good thing about being 32 but there is also a bad thing as it is getting tougher for me and Christinna to keep up with the young ones. Of course, I have a lot experience and am a lot calm. I am not chasing after the results like I did 10 years ago. That is also why you should stay cool when you enter the quarterfinals and the semifinals. It is good to be a little older but it is also tougher to practice hard everyday.

“The challenge for us is there are too many good doubles players from other countries and we are the only ones from Denmark. Christina and I have found out a way to be in a good shape. We have a physical trainer who helps us a lot. It gives us a little more movement on the court and both of us have also lost some weight and it is easier for us to move on court.”

Playing against boys is also another way by which Juhl and her partner keep their level high. “We do as much as we can to beat some of them and of course we play with the young boys to get used to playing tougher opponents. You don't practice that much with the girls in Denmark because the gap is big from Christina and I to the next level. It is tough to keep up to them but we work hard to be in good shape.”

Juhl also recommended the same – playing against boys for India's best women's doubles shuttlers – 14th-ranked Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa. 

“I think they are a good combination. It is like Christina and I with a left-hand and right-hand combination. Maybe they could do like Christina and I do. A lot of physical training will be good. It also helps to play a lot against the boys. It is really helping us,” said Juhl, who is also a sports management student.

One of the secrets to Juhl-Pedersen success is the left-right combination. “We have been playing for five years and we are getting used to each other on court. We are a good pair on the court because Christina is very good at the net and I am good at the backline,” she said.

Juhl does not believe in setting goals. But Olympic medal is something that is top on her priority list. “It would be great to do well at the Olympics. I know it is difficult. Normally, I don't set goals with specific results as it doesn't work for me. I just try to do my best at the Olympics and hopefully I will get a medal for Denmark,” she said.

Playing the 15-point format in the PBL as against the regular 21 points, Juhl said it's fun and all about adapting to the rules. “It (15-point scoring) is difficult when it is for only one tournament. I look forward to playing 21 again in the next tournament. In Denmark we also played to 11 and I think that was too short and too easy for the underdogs to win a set. I like to play to 15 points,” she said.

KNOW KAMILLA

Born: November 23, 1983
Playing style: Left-handed
Height: 1.83m
Current rank: 2 in women's doubles with Christinna Pedersen, 30 in mixed doubles with Mads Pieler Kolding
Best rank: 2 in women's doubles (current), 1 in mixed doubles (with Thomas Laybourn in 2010) 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Women's doubles:
European Championships gold (2008, 2012, 2014)
World Championships silver (2015)
BWF Superseries Finals gold (2013)

Mixed doubles:
World Championships gold in Hyderabad (2009)
European Championships gold (2006, 2010)
World Championships bronze (2013)
BWF Superseries Finals gold (2008)