# Former Olympian Tan Kim Her has turned India’s fortunes in doublesÂ
# Now India gunning for medals in 2020 Tokyo Olympics
# Indian shuttlers win three titles in Syed Modi Grand Prix GoldÂ
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By Rizal Abdullah
Less than two years after being appointed as India’s chief doubles coach former Malaysian Olympian Tan Kim Her has worked some wonders with the Indian shuttlers.
India’s strong showing in the recently concluded USD120,000 Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold tournament in Lucknow are early signs that the Asian nation will pose serious threat in all the doubles events in international badminton.Â
The host nation won three titles – the men’s and women’s singles through Sameer Verma and P.V. Sindhu respectively and the mixed doubles through Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy.
Kim Her, according to reports coming out from India, strongly believes that Indian shuttlers will not be just aiming to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but will also aim to be among the medal winners.
In the Syed Modi tournament it was an all-India final in the mixed doubles. While Pranaav-Sikki won the title it was the stunning performance of runners-up B. Sumeeth Reddy-Ashwini Ponnappa in the semi-finals that augurs well for the pair.
Pranaav-Reddy won 22-20, 21-10 to add to the Grand Prix titles they won in Brazil and Russia last year.
Sumeeth-Ashwini, playing in only their second tournament, upset Denmark’s 2012 London Olympics bronze medallists and top seeds Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen 19-21, 21-18, 21-18 in the semi-finals.
It was also the first time in the history of Indian badminton that two pairs from the country reached the final.
Ashwini-Sikki also play in the women’s doubles and finished runners-up to top seeds and Rio Olympics silver medallist Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christina Pedersen of Denmark. The experienced Danes won 21-16, 21-18.
Under Kim Her’s guidance India’s top men’s doubles pair of Sumeeth Reddy-Manu Attri also became the first Indians to qualify for the Olympics in the event in last year’s Rio Olympics.
Kim Her has wealth of experience having coached in South Korea, England and Malaysia before taking up the job in India.Â
Sindhu became the first Indian woman shuttler to win the silver medal in the singles at the Rio Olympics last year. Former world No 1 Saina Nehwal won the bronze medal in the same event at the 2012 London Olympics.
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RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
MEN
Singles
Sameer Verma (Ind) beat B. Sai Praneeth (Ind) 21-19, 21-16
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Doubles
Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) beat Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han (Tpe) 21-14, 21-15
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WOMEN
Singles
P.V. Sindhu (Ind) beat Gregoria Mariska (Ina) 21-13, 21-14
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Doubles
Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Christinna Pedersen (Den) beat Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy (Ind) 21-16, 21-18
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Mixed doubles
Pranaav Jerry Choprsa-N. Sikki Reddy (Ind) beat B. Sumeeth Reddy-Ashwini Ponnappa (Ind) 22-20, 21-10
