Name: Kidambi SrikanthSport: BadmintonAchievements: Bronze medal – 2016 Hyderabad Asia Championships - Men's Team Gold medal – 2016 Guwahati South Asian Games - Men's Singles Gold medal – 2016 Guwahati South Asian Games - Men's Team Bronze medal – 2011 Lucknow Asian Junior Championships - Mixed Team Silver medal – 2011 Douglas Commonwealth Youth Games - Mixed Doubles Bronze medal – 2011 Douglas Commonwealth Youth Games - Boys' Doubles
After an abysmal performance in his last few games, Badminton World No. 11 K Srikanth is all geared up to shine in the upcoming 2016 Olympics Rio which kickstarts on 5 August.
“I was tense but not for my qualification, it was my game that I was worried about since I knew if I can play well, I will automatically qualify,” told PTI.
The Guntur-based shuttler, who was inspired by Indian ace Saina Nehwal is ecstatic at being selected for the Rio Olympics. Srikanth has been placed in Group 'H' in the men’s Badminton singles.
When asked about his dream come true moment, Srikanth said, “I’ve never watched or followed Olympics as a child. My first memory of the Olympics was watching Saina Nehwal play at the Beijing Games quarterfinals. It was at that moment when I wondered, what if I could play at the Olympics someday. Ever since, it has been my dream to playing there, every time you see someone play at the Olympics, you want to be there."
Srikanth, who is supported by Bangalore’s GoSports Foundation, follows a strict training schedule at the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.
The star badminton player, born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, is the younger son of KVS Krishna and Radha. His elder brother, Nanda Gopal, is also a badminton player.
Srikanth’s performance at the 2014 China Open earned him a Super Series Premier men title after he beat two-time Olympic winner and five-time world champion Lin Dan in the finals.
He became the first Indian to have ever won the title.
He is also the first Indian male to win gold at the 2015 Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold by defeating Denmark shuttler Viktor Axelsen.
Srikanth added quite a few feathers in his cap with the recent gold medals won at 2016 South Asian Games held in Guwahati under Men's Singles and Team categories.
Talking about his preparation for the upcoming Olympics, he said, “It has been a good one and a half month for me. After a long time, I could get a necessary break and I really could work on overall aspects of the game."
He added, “I really can’t do anything about the expectations that everyone has for me. People and well-wishers will always have expectations from you and the only way is to take it positively and not think about it. It is only when the media questions me about it that I feel the pressure. I can’t complain about it. I have to play there and perform to the best of my ability.”'
