The National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati, established by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) last year, currently trains 42 young players from across the country. One of the key figures guiding these juniors is 54-year-old Malaysian coach Sankar Annamalai, who emphasizes the importance of mental resilience.
After several doubles pairs from the NCE were eliminated from the Yonex Sunrise 31st Smt Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Prize Money Tournament, Annamalai offered some encouragement. “Cherish this loss,” he said. “It will teach you something.”
Despite the setbacks, two pairs still advanced to the finals at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, a result Annamalai took in stride. According to the coach, mental toughness is what Indian junior players need most.
“India’s junior players are gaining essential skills much earlier than they used to,” Annamalai said. “But they still lack the power that Malaysians and Indonesians have. At the Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 levels, mental strength is crucial, and building that is one of our main goals.”
The NCE, where Annamalai coaches, is staffed by several experts. Korean coach Park Tae-Sang and Annamalai specialize in singles, while Russian Ivan Sozonov focuses on doubles. They are supported by a team that includes coaches Sachin Rana, Saiyam Shukla, Saurabh Sharma, and Anand Tiwari, as well as four physiotherapists and strength and conditioning experts.
Annamalai’s experience extends beyond India. In Malaysia, he was part of the national junior program, helping develop players like former world champion Soh Wooi Yik, multiple world doubles medallist Koo Kien Kiat, and Tokyo Olympic medallist Soniaa Cheah.
“Malaysian coaches emphasize skill development from a young age, starting around the Under-12 level,” Annamalai explained. “They also incorporate power training. In Malaysia, all the top players, both junior and senior, train at the national center. India’s best juniors should be doing the same at the NCE.”
At the NCE, the coaches aim to enhance both technical skills and mental preparation. Park Tae-Sang focuses on attacking skills, working on shots like drops and high smashes. Similarly, Sozonov works on doubles techniques, especially improving smashes and defensive drives.
Both Park and Annamalai believe in giving top juniors international exposure and the opportunity to train abroad, helping them develop into world-class players.
A key decision for the coaches at NCE is determining whether a player should specialize in singles or doubles.
“One thing we’ve told the juniors is that there’s no need to decide early between singles or doubles,” Annamalai said. “But once you do choose, you must fully commit to that format with the right mental and skill training. Look at Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty—they started specializing later, but their coach, Tan Kim Her, trained them to think and play like doubles specialists.”
Annamalai’s approach at the NCE is not just about physical skills but also ensuring young athletes are mentally prepared for the challenges ahead, helping them grow into stronger, more resilient players.
