After a more than decade-long stint as a trainee at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Sumeeth Reddy will now also try his hand at coaching and providing a platform for talented, young shuttlers.
Sumeeth Reddy, who represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics along with his long-time partner Manu Attri, understands that nobody can match the standards set by the Gopichand Academy. However, he hopes IBA can play the role of a feeder center for the Gopichand Academy.
Terming it a dream project, Reddy said:
Reddy also plans to continue taking part in international tournaments for at least another couple of years. The 29-year-old doubles ace was ranked as high as world No. 17 in January 2016. The pair of Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri also competed at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
We will try to produce quality shuttlers from our academy: Sumeeth Reddy
Reddy believes the target of his academy will be to produce shuttlers who can make it to the top.
Reddy will only be scheduling, monitoring and planning since he is currently an active player.
Sumeeth Reddy’s wife is N Sikki Reddy, who with Ashwini Ponnappa form the 27th ranked women’s doubles team.
Sumeeth Reddy has finalized a group of experienced coaches to manage the new coaching center.
Sumeeth and Sikki made history when they became the first Indian husband and wife mixed doubles pair when they took part in the Thailand Open earlier in the year.
It was the first big Badminton World Federation (BWF) tournament after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 calendar. The couple got married in March 2019.
Left-hander Sikki had partnered Pranav Jerry Chopra in mixed doubles until recently, while Sumeeth never had a settled partner in this category. Sumeeth, who has two Grand Prix titles and a gold at the 2016 South Asian Games to his name, added:
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