Mumbai: Indian badminton coach Pullela Gopichand on Sunday said the IPL-style Indian Badminton League (IBL) has got off to a good start and generated a lot of interest in people.
"It is important to get a good start and the IBL has got a good start. It has created a phenomenal buzz. The second day in Delhi saw 3,000 people," Gopichand, who is also a member of the IBL governing council told reporters here.
He felt that the infrastructure in the country has improved from what it used to be earlier, especially in the cities where National Games were held.
"In Guangzhou alone there are 1,700 courts, and in Mumbai it must be 50. So infrastructure is needed but in association with good coaches and equipment," he said.
On rising Indian shuttler P V Sindhu, who recently won the the bronze medal in World Badminton Championship, he said," Sindhu is doing good. It is one thing to reach a certain level and another to go to the next level. She needs to play more matches. Her planning in the last two years has been spot on."
Asked about Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon who defeated Sindhu in the semi-finals of the World Championship before eventually winning the title he said, "She won three world junior titles in the last five years. She is very fit."
He also praised ace Chinese Olympic and world champion Lin Dan for his ability to maintain fitness and said, "He is not the most gifted player but he has worked hard on his fitness, which would have taken him a lot of years. He is in a position to choose his matches and he has the ability to win most of his matches because of his physical fitness."
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