B Sai Praneeth, Chen Long return as coaches ahead of BWF World Junior Championships

B Sai Praneeth at Guwahati; (right) China’s junior team coach Chen Long at the BWF World Jr C’ships in Guwahati on Tuesday. Pic/Badminton Photo

While the Chinese and US junior team members were gearing up for their BWF World Junior Championships campaign here, two individuals standing at different corners of the stadium were attracting more eyeballs than the players themselves.

Standing beside the Chinese team was 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist and former world champion Chen Long, 36, while accompanying the USA team was 2019 world championship bronze medallist and one of India's star players B Sai Praneeth, 33.

While China entrusted their national junior team to Chen Long following his retirement in 2023, Sai Praneeth, who retired and moved to the USA last year to train youngsters at a local club, is on his first assignment with the US national team.

"When it comes to the juniors, I am looking for the hunger [to succeed] more than skills as that is what sets players apart," said Chen Long, who also works with China's senior team. Meanwhile, Sai Praneeth, who trains players at the Triangle Badminton Academy in North Carolina, revealed that the badminton system in America is a lot different from what it is in India. "In USA, the system is very club driven and the players only come together during such team events. But I can confidently say that there is no dearth of talent," said Sai Praneeth, who ended India's 36-year wait for a world championship medal in men's singles in 2019.

India beat Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, India beat Sri Lanka in their Group H clash on Tuesday, a day after routing Nepal, to inch closer to the knockout stages of the mixed team event of the BWF World Junior Badminton Championships for the Suhandinata Cup here. India beat Sri Lanka 45-27, 45-21, a day after routing Nepal 45-18, 45-17.

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