Earlier than the Olympics, rubbers on the racket had been the speak of the desk tennis world particularly after India’s Ayhika Mukherjee, Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra had surprised China’s prime paddlers.
Reportedly, China had a camp on find out how to play in opposition to these utilizing pimple rubber.
Within the Olympic singles competitors, Sreeja put up a stable combat in opposition to Solar Yingsha, the silver medalist from Tokyo, in a pre-quarter last conflict. She squandered 9 recreation factors within the first two video games and couldn’t get well after that. Manika was wanting equipped for the group occasion after her loss to Japan’s Miu Hirano in singles.
India’s opponents within the quarterfinal had been Germany. However whoever thought that Germany’s Annett Kaufmann would finish India’s Paris sojourn.
The left-hander learn Manika’s recreation so nicely that no quantity of twiddles or blocks may unsettle her. Kaufmann gained 3-1 after which inflicted an excellent worse 3-0 defeat on Sreeja in what was the ultimate match of the tie. Each Sreeja and Manika use long-pimple rubber on one facet of their rackets.
Lengthy-pimple rubber is a defensive ploy and places the alternative impact on the spin that the opponent performs. If the opponent performs a backspin shot, when one returns with this rubber, the ball may have topspin and vice-versa. A fast change mid-rally is the important thing to stunning the opponent.
Nonetheless, the ‘lengthy pimple’ benefit vanished for India’s gamers in the course of the Olympics. With tempo, energy and simply understanding how the lengthy pimples work, Kaufmann was capable of defeat two Indian gamers, maybe one of the best on this planet at making using long-pimple rubber.
The Los Angeles Olympics is 4 years away however what does a Manika or Sreeja — each prime 25 gamers — have to do to have a shot at a medal?
Manika’s coach Aman Balgu says the main target must be health ranges.
“I really feel that Manika and different Indians need to work on their health ranges. As a way to win an Olympic medal, we want to have the ability to generate rather more energy and spin. It is advisable win six matches to win a medal in singles and I don’t assume that proper now our gamers will be capable of preserve the identical excessive depth for six straight matches. We will speak about methods and ways all day lengthy, however should you don’t have the bodily health to again it, you gained’t get a medal,” Balgu mentioned.
Nationwide coach Massimo Costantini, who’s presently in his hometown in Italy on a mini-break earlier than the Final Desk Tennis (UTT) League begins subsequent week, instructed The Indian Specific that it doesn’t matter which rubber a participant makes use of. What issues is how one can fluctuate their strokes.
“Within the ladies’s recreation, the main target is on variation and ball placement. I gained’t say if pimple rubber is a bonus or not, however you’ll be able to have extra variations should you’re taking part in with pimples. No consecutive balls must be performed the identical method. You must create a shock, you’ll be able to’t get right into a predictable loop. The important thing must be a change of technique, principally disorienting the opponents,” the 66-year-old Costantini mentioned.
What’s the possibility?
There’s no denying the truth that Indian ladies have reached the highest 25 on this planet due to their use of lengthy pimples. After Sreeja and Manika, the subsequent best-placed Indian is Sutirtha Mukherjee at World No.83, who makes use of quick rubbers on either side of the bat. And the ladies who use quick rubbers have struggled to enter even the highest 60 on this planet with Archana Kamath being one of the best amongst them, reaching world No.65 in 2022.
Somnath Ghosh, Sreeja’s coach, says utilizing pimples is just not the one cause.
“Sreeja and Manika haven’t reached the place they’re due to lengthy pimples, however with it. There’s a distinction. Look, you’ll be able to defend with lengthy pimples however how will you get a degree? You must assault. And for that, it is advisable have an incredible forehand assault. You additionally have to know when to assault. That astuteness must be there,” Ghosh mentioned.
However how does a Sreeja enter the highest 10 rankings on this planet?
“Sreeja’s graph has been spectacular. She has entered the highest 100 and reached World No.21 in lower than two years. Now should you ask me what wants to enhance to offer her a medal in LA, I’ll solely say health. Bodily and psychological,” Ghosh mentioned.
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Coach Costantini reiterates that to achieve the highest, ‘you want a correct construction’.
“I’m assured that Indians can beat the highest gamers no matter their rubbers. We have now gamers with drive and abilities however what we want is a stable programme and help. We’d like constant improvement of coaches who know the fashionable methods of the game and find out how to develop a participant. One of many important causes I’ve joined right here is to assist create such a construction,” he says.
The primary is establishing a nationwide centre which is able to most probably come up in Bengaluru.
“It can change the game within the nation, I can let you know. We will have a everlasting place to have this ‘Indian TT motion’. We will have alternatives for gamers at numerous ranges to come back and prepare. Expertise identification will probably be large and the gamers and coaches will be monitored. The nation is able to begin producing gamers of the best high quality and it will simply speed up that,” Costantini.
What concerning the males?
With Sharath Kamal having performed his final Olympics, the baton has fallen to Harmeet Desai and G Sathiyan. The 2 haven’t damaged into the highest 30 previously three years, with Harmeet’s career-best being 59. Costantini, although, says he’s not apprehensive concerning the males.
“I do know that Indian males will climb new heights. Simply take a look at the way in which Manav Thakkar is taking part in and thoughts you, there’s an enormous pool of expertise. Consistency is a key space they need to deal with and we’re going to assist them attain the highest,” he says.
Two years in the past, Indian paddlers had no medal hopes on the Olympics. That modified simply earlier than Paris. Come LA 2028, the decision for a medal is just going to get louder, amplified by the lengthy pimples or not, is left to be seen.