Renowned Indonesian coach Agus Santoso, who has mentored top Indian shuttlers, has voiced a pointed analysis of the Indian players’ strengths and weaknesses. Speaking from his years of experience in global badminton, Santoso discusses how Indian stars like PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, and Priyanshu Rajawat can overcome barriers to reach a higher level.
Sindhu Needs Efficiency; Srikkanth Requires Endurance
Agus Santoso believes that for PV Sindhu to continue competing effectively, she must go beyond her natural power and hard work to focus on strategic efficiency.
“It’s not about hard work now; her game has to get far more efficient. She already knows strategy but relies heavily on physical strength. She needs to dig deeper into skill, stroke, and strategy,” he told Indian Express. According to Santoso, Sindhu’s game must evolve to avoid exhausting her energy on the court, an efficiency that legendary players like Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei mastered.
On Kidambi Srikanth, Santoso’s diagnosis is straightforward: “He needs more endurance. Lots more.” The Indian footwork, he notes, tends to be less energy-efficient, which has resulted in players burning out quickly. Santoso sees a lack of continuity in Srikanth’s stamina that prevents him from maintaining peak performance throughout tournaments.
Beyond individual changes, Santoso highlights a need for greater ambition in Indian players. “Winning one title should not be the end goal. Chinese and Indonesian players always seek to win more. This attitude must change for Indian players to consistently excel,” he stresses.
Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat: Skill and Adaptability Needed
Agus Santoso also assesses Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat, two emerging talents with great promise but notable weaknesses.
Santoso sees Lakshya Sen as a player with a good defence, but lacking adaptability against top opponents. “He has good defence, but if he comes up against a better rally player, he struggles. He’s not a complete player yet,” Santoso explains, indicating that Sen needs to build an all-round game to compete with diverse playing styles.
For Rajawat, Santoso is optimistic yet cautious. “He’s a very smart talent, full of intelligence. But against a better stroke-maker, his control over the shuttle dips,” he observes. Santoso suggests that while Rajawat has immense potential, staying injury-free and committing to a disciplined training regime will be essential for his growth.
Santoso’s Thoughts on India’s Rising Doubles Pair and Future Prospects
Santoso has high praise for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India’s top doubles pair, calling them “monsters” on the court for their height and skill. Despite their Olympic setbacks, he insists their game style needs no major change and that their only challenge is to stay injury-free.
Finally, he mentions Anmol Kharb in the women’s singles and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran in the men’s singles as bright prospects. “Anmol is full of talent, but now the world will know her style, and she’ll need to adapt,” Santoso notes, stressing the importance of evolving as a player’s reputation grows.
Addressing Gaps in Indian Badminton Training
According to Santoso, Indian badminton training often lacks fundamentals in grip, footwork, and techniques. He contrasts this with China’s unified approach, where training, injury management, and coaching are all streamlined on a single campus.
“China works as one coordinated system, while Indian academies tend to work independently. To improve, Indian training needs to match these global standards,” he advises.
Santoso’s insights provide a roadmap not only for individual improvements but also for a systemic shift in how India approaches the sport of badminton.
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