All posts tagged: Vimal Kumar

For Isharani Baruah, repeatedly leaving shuttles landing inside baseline, is concerning’ – Coach Vimal Kumar

For Isharani Baruah, repeatedly leaving shuttles landing inside baseline, is concerning’ – Coach Vimal Kumar

Published by Webster

Written by: Express News Service 4 min readApr 28, 2026 04:01 PM IST Had it been a routine pasting at the hands of a former Olympic champion, Isharani Baruah could’ve been dismissed as just another youngster, a work in progress. But it was in the manner of her loss to Chen Yufei, 22-20, 21-13, that has disappointed her coach at Bangalore, Vimal Kumar. Vimal, who made an inspired decision to field the Gopichand-coached teen then, Saina Nehwal in a team event, where she stepped up to deliver a win, reckons it’s these clutch moments that the young brigade need to make the most of. Isharani could not convert her 20-19 advantage in the first set, despite playing well. And there’s very little to salvage from such misses, Vimal said. “Isharani had Chen Yufei on the ropes at the Uber Cup—and let her off. At 20–19, a missed sitter. At this level, that’s the match,” he said. There are specific areas where the pattern of misses has become apparent to him. “The concern is deeper. Repeatedly …

New scoring system: Badminton could lose its essence, say top Indian coaches

New scoring system: Badminton could lose its essence, say top Indian coaches

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi: Badminton is set for a significant change as the new 3×15 scoring format (three games to 15 points) gets implemented next year, replacing the current 3×21 system. It is difficult to predict how the game will unfold because the format has not been tested at the sport’s highest level. What it does show is that matches will be shorter, with 18 fewer points that could reduce match time by roughly 30 minutes or more. What it also means is that shuttlers trailing by a few points will be under greater pressure, and comebacks will be that much tougher. And, of course, it will also be less of a test of a shuttler’s physical abilities. Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen. (AP) Games could be faster and more attacking, but the tactical depth in constructing and finishing points while testing an opponent’s mind and movement could witness a dip. There has been considerable debate over the shift, and the badminton fraternity at large has been apprehensive. The Badminton World Federation (BWF), however, says its tests …

Vimal Kumar on new scoring system

Vimal Kumar on new scoring system

Published by Webster

The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) decision to replace 3×21 with the new 3×15 points scoring system from January 2027 onwards has stirred a debate among the badminton fraternity. Former India coach and Dronacharya Awardee Vimal Kumar is at the forefront of calling the move ‘disappointing’. Taking to his social media, Kumar wrote: “Extremely disappointed with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) decision to alter the scoring system — and even more concerning is the overwhelming support it has received from Council members.” The BWF voted in favour of the new scoring system with an overwhelming 82.16% majority at its Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark. A whopping 198 people voted in favour of moving to the shorter format, while 43 voted against it. “The existing format ensured a true level playing field across playing styles, especially in the premier events—Men’s and Women’s Singles—which have always embodied the very essence of our sport: skill, resilience, fitness, and mental strength,” he wrote. While the BWF argues the shorter format will improve scheduling, create more high-pressure moments, and help …

‘Christie is like Kohli there; the taxi driver spoke of….’

‘Christie is like Kohli there; the taxi driver spoke of….’

Published by Webster

3 min readApr 10, 2026 03:14 PM IST It wasn’t just that Indonesian coach Irwansyah was in the Indian corner when Ayush Shetty defeated his ace former protege Jonatan Christie. Vimal Kumar, the lead coach at Ayush’s badminton academy also found himself in badminton-mad Indonesia, on the morning of their face-off. The win sets up a semis face-off with World No 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Unlike India where the second biggest broadcaster refused to renew TV rights for the Badminton Asia Championships which meant Indian’s were left scrambling for stray streams to catch the match – only from one angle! – the Ayush-Jojo match was the highlight of the Indonesian sporting day. India’s lead broadcaster was left showing the European championships. Vimal Kumar, in Indonesia for a private wedding, flew into the country and caught the excitement akin to cricket in India. “Jonatan is their No 1 player, like Virat Kohli. Every channel was showing the Asian Championship. Their other players Alwi Farhan and Ubaidullah had lost, but this was the big one,” he said. ALSO …

Ayush Shetty defangs World No 7 Li Shifeng with deep, travelling smashes in Round 1 of Asian Badminton

Ayush Shetty defangs World No 7 Li Shifeng with deep, travelling smashes in Round 1 of Asian Badminton

Published by Webster

4 min readApr 8, 2026 10:20 AM IST After Lakshya Sen decimated the Chinese men’s singles at All England, Ayush Shetty kept the powerhouse under the pump, with a stunningly poised and powerful win over Li Shifeng in the first round of the Badminton Asian Championship. The Indian attack quite simply overran the most attacking of China’s shuttlers, as the World No 25 Indian defanged World No 7 Shifeng, playing crisp, crackling badminton. It took 55 minutes, mostly to overhaul early set leads (7.5. 8-5) from Shifeng. The Chinese, just 26 is already from a generation that is being challenged and pushed out by the new bunch of post-teens. The longest rally perhaps came when Shifeng desperately tried, when trailing 13-19 in the first set to construct a maze to tire out Ayush. But the Indian stayed solid, did the due retrieving and finished with a smash, which are mic-drops in the sense that Shifeng rarely got near them. Guided by Irwansyah, a perfect fit for Ayush as coach, given his classical power stroke-making, the …

Who is Lin Chun-Yi, Lakshya Sen’s opponent in the All England final? | Badminton News

Who is Lin Chun-Yi, Lakshya Sen’s opponent in the All England final? | Badminton News

Published by Webster

First the fitness update: Lakshya Sen is in good spirits, and though the 97-minute semifinal was an absolute wringer where his feet cramped and hobbled, he has some of the best recovery-aiding personnel by his side, and should turn up ready to face Taiwanese Lin Chun-Yi. “He will deal with what bothered him yesterday, everythingwill be sorred out perfectly,” coach Vimal Kumar said cryptically. The Commonwealth Games final that Sen won in Birmingham, had his on-site and long term trainer Heath Matthews raving about his diligence in recovery, including the ice-baths. This time he had fever a fortnight ago, successfully overcame a glutes issue, and after 317 minutes on court through 4 matches, played through a toe blister. “We can’t complicate it too much, or be too concerned. Lakshya showed what his mind is made of,” Vimal would add. Sen overcame intense discomfort of cramps and knees put under immense shock-load when he needed to leap to smash against Victor Lai. But driven to nail that elusive title, his body will follow suit, the coach …

Coach Vimal Kumar on Sen’s 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 win over NG Ka Long Angus

Coach Vimal Kumar on Sen’s 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 win over NG Ka Long Angus

Published by Parlour News

How Lakshya Sen goes from leading 17-11, 19-14 to losing the second set 21-23, is in the realms of speculation or snakes-and-ladder on a badminton court. That’s effectively a net 4-11 points from a very advantageous position straight into the ditch. But like a good doctor would tell you, they can’t keep the rains from raining down, they can only arm you with a sturdy umbrella. So what India’s shuttler-in-need-of-Sherlock and his massively varied coaching team have done is try to respond to these familiar lapses by staying solid in the third. NG Ka Long Angus must’ve expected Sen to crumble after one of his usual blunderings took the All England Round 2 into the decider. Because he had slumped at the Olympics (twice), and myriad other tournaments. But Sen played an absolutely laser-focussed third set, to win 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 and defeat the opponent from Hong Kong, aged 31, ranked 29 to reach quarterfinals. On Friday, he plays Chinese Li Shifeng, his batchmate whom he led 7-4 in head to head before All England …

Coach Vimal Kumar on Sen’s 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 win over NG Ka Long Angus

Coach Vimal Kumar on Sen’s 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 win over NG Ka Long Angus

Published by Webster

How Lakshya Sen goes from leading 17-11, 19-14 to losing the second set 21-23, is in the realms of speculation or snakes-and-ladder on a badminton court. That’s effectively a net 4-11 points from a very advantageous position straight into the ditch. But like a good doctor would tell you, they can’t keep the rains from raining down, they can only arm you with a sturdy umbrella. So what India’s shuttler-in-need-of-Sherlock and his massively varied coaching team have done is try to respond to these familiar lapses by staying solid in the third. NG Ka Long Angus must’ve expected Sen to crumble after one of his usual blunderings took the All England Round 2 into the decider. Because he had slumped at the Olympics (twice), and myriad other tournaments. But Sen played an absolutely laser-focussed third set, to win 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 and defeat the opponent from Hong Kong, aged 31, ranked 29 to reach quarterfinals. On Friday, he plays Chinese Li Shifeng, his batchmate whom he led 7-4 in head to head before All England …

PV Sindhu could miss All England Open, remains stuck in Dubai; Unnati Hooda reschedules flight, Vimal Kumar cancels travel | Badminton News

PV Sindhu could miss All England Open, remains stuck in Dubai; Unnati Hooda reschedules flight, Vimal Kumar cancels travel | Badminton News

Published by Webster

Stranded at a hotel in Dubai in a nightmare transit on her way to Birmingham, it is “extremely unlikely” that PV Sindhu will make it in time for the All England Open, which is scheduled to start on Tuesday. Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Sanjay Mishra said they were in constant touch with India’s top shuttler, but chances of her being able to travel onwards look very dim. “We are constantly in touch with her. But right now, things are not in our control, and unfortunately it looks like she might miss the All England. The Badminton World Federation have been very sympathetic, and have assured that they will reschedule any games for players stuck in travel. But as of now, our options are next to nothing,” Mishra said. The Emirates, that Sindhu was to take to fly to Birmingham, is amongst several airlines that have lodged those stranded, a number close to 20,000, in hotels across Dubai. Several international airlines had announced cancellations for the next few days, with Dutch KLM until Thursday, …

Lakshya Sen’s work ethic not a problem; he needs to be ready for early, tough matches against unknown players: Coach Vimal Kumar | Badminton News

Lakshya Sen’s work ethic not a problem; he needs to be ready for early, tough matches against unknown players: Coach Vimal Kumar | Badminton News

Published by Webster

Going out in the first round, at four out of six recent tournaments despite being one of the best players to have ever come out of the country, raises eyebrows – something that Lakshya Sen is having to deal with for now. However, ignoring those eyebrows, and all other noise that comes with being someone of his stature, might just be what Lakshya needs to do to turn it around as he prepares to face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the first round of Singapore Open which starts on Tuesday. At least that is what coach U Vimal Kumar feels is key for Lakshya to get back to the level he showed during his historic run at the Paris Olympics. Lakshya performed better than any Indian male badminton player before him but the fact remains that he joined the pantheon of unlucky sportspersons from the country who finished fourth in their respective Olympic disciplines. “Missing a medal does hurt you for a long time but you have to find ways,” Vimal tells the Indian …