I really wish I can be a better player than what I am: Kidambi Srikanth

How does it feel to be winning back-to-back Superseries titles?

It always feels great when you are continuously winning titles.

What do these victories mean to you? What can these wins do to you when you go to major championships, where a title eludes you?

Every win is important, every win is special. These tournaments are equally important. I feel I need to be more consistent in bigger events, where I have consistently reached quarterfinals. It is just that I could not go beyond that. I need to be a little more consistent.

Consistent in terms of what as you seem to have a solid game beating the top players?

Consistency in terms of cutting down mistakes, playing much more solid and being more focussed.

Do you think you are playing your best badminton at the moment, or is your best yet to come?

I am playing well at the moment. I am training daily to get better. I really wish I can be a better player than what I am.

What is the ultimate for you in badminton?

The ultimate will be to win an Olympics medal. But, to think about Olympics is not a good idea as it is three years away. There are many tournaments lined up from now till then. For me, I am just keeping short-term goals, really want to think about the next couple of tournaments I am playing and the next one or two months that I will be playing.

Will you settle for any colour of the Olympics medal?

Definitely I will try for gold. Whatever comes, I will be happy. I won't only try for bronze.

How much importance do you give to rankings as you are closing in on No. 1?

I don't really think too much about the rankings because if I can consistently win tournaments, I will be up there in the rankings. I don't really have to bother about it. If I actually run behind rankings, I might lose focus on my game. I don't want to put extra pressure on me thinking about the rankings. I just want to enjoy sport.

Last year, you missed action due to ankle injury. What were you going through during that phase and how determined were you to come back from the injury?

I suffered a major injury for the first time in my career last year after the Rio Olympics. I was out of action for about three months. I really missed playing the sport. But, I wanted to play badminton, and I was not allowed to even stand during that three-month period. One of my coaches gave me the idea of sitting and hitting the shuttle. As I have been saying before, Roger Federer is my idol and after suffering injury last year, he came back stronger to win two Grand Slams this year, the Australian Open and the Wimbledon. If he is able to do it at his age (35 years), I really though even I can do it at 24 years.

How difficult was it when you played your first tournament on comeback from that injury?

In the initial days, it was just doing rehab. I was not allowed to push myself in the first couple of months. It was to do 50-60 per cent of training and keep playing. After two-three months, I really started to push myself in training.

What has been that turning point that set the ball rolling for you this year?

Post injury, the Singapore Open Superseries (April), was the turning point. A week before that, in the Indian Open Superseries, I lost to Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) in straight games (in round of 16). After this defeat, I entered the final of the Singapore Open Superseries (Srikanth lost to compatriot B Sai Praneeth in the final). That gave me a lot of confidence.

Which of your victories has given you the greatest satisfaction?

Every tournament is important for me. Every win is important for me. Even the first round wins are important. I don't want to compare any of those wins. Every match is special.

Apart from you, there are other Indians in the top 20 in men's singles, four as on date. Does it occur to you that you are the torch bearer of Indian badminton among men?

I have not thought of this. But I will definitely be the happiest if I can do that for Indian badminton.

Does the mental preparation change when you face players ranked above you and those below?

There is nothing different I do. It is just the same routine. I am not really worried about the result. I just want to play my best.

Who has been the toughest you have faced in the circuit?

Everyone is playing well. In the French Open Superseries, finalist Kenta Nishimoto of Japan came from the qualifying rounds. The Denmark Open finalist Lee Hyun Il of Korea was unseeded. He is now in the top 25. Everyone is playing great badminton. It is always going to be tough against any opponent.

What is next for you?

The senior nationals in Nagpur (November 2-8) and after that, the China Superseries Premier (Fuzhou, November 14-19) and Hong Kong Superseries (Kowloon, November 21-26).

After winning Superseries titles, does playing the senior nationals become a cakewalk for you?

No, no, not at all. The senior nationals have the best men's singles players. We had five Indians in the top 20 world rankings until two weeks ago. We have the best of the world here and it is always going to be tough when you are going to play the top players.

How has life changed in recent times after the Superseries titles?

There has not been a big change. It remains the same. Anyways, I don't get time to go out. Most of the times, I am at the academy (in Hyderabad) or travelling for tournaments. Being recognised by people is good, and sportspersons really love it.

What do you when you are not playing?

I just take rest. I am not one who goes out much.

KIDAMBI SRIKANTH IN 2017

Winner: French Open Superseries, Paris, Oct 24-29
Winner: Denmark Open Superseries Premier, Odense, Oct 17-22

Quarterfinalist: Japan Open Superseries, Tokyo, Sep 19-24
Quarterfinalist: World Championships, Glasgow, Aug 21-17

Winner: Australian Open Superseries, Sydney, June 20-25
Winner: Indonesia Open Superseries Premier, Jakarta, June 13-18

Runner-up: Singapore Open Superseries, Singapore, April 11-16
Pre-quarterfinalist: India Open Superseries, Delhi, Mar 28-Apr 2

1st round: All England, Birmingham, Mar 7-12
Pre-quarterfinalist: German Open Grand Prix Gold, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Feb 28-Mar 5

Semifinalist: Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold, Lucknow, Jan 24-29

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Srikanth Kidambi's current world rank. His career best rank is No. 3 in mid-June. With his French Open triumph, he is likely to go up to No. 2 this week

Srikanth's Superseries titles

2014 China Open Superseries Premier

2015 India Open Superseries
2017 Indonesia Open Superseries Premier

2017 Australian Open Superseries
2017 Denmark Open Superseries Premier

2017 French Open Superseries