From Olympic bronze with Sindhu to back-to-back Super 300s

Two Super 300 titles. Two different players. Two consecutive weeks. For Park Tae-Sang, it is not just a fortnight of good results. It offers a glimpse of his work that he has been putting in Indian badminton, building players who, he hopes, can become the next generation of Indian stars.

Last Sunday, 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma won the Taipei Open. Seven days later, 26-year-old Ashmita Chaliha made a stunning comeback from a career-threatening knee injury to win the Korea Masters. “It’s been an amazing two weeks. Last week, Tanvi was also amazing. She is only 17 and won her first BWF-level title. Today, I was even happier because it was Ashmita’s first final and she won the title. As a coach, I’m really happy,” Park told PTI from Asan, Korea.

Park spent four years with PV Sindhu in Hyderabad, a stint that culminated in the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal. After that association ended, he was approached by the Badminton Association of India about working with younger players.

“When I started working with Sindhu, she was already a world champion and had a group of good senior players around her. This time, I thought to myself, ‘Okay, let’s start from the beginning. I will build these players myself, with my own hands. “The idea was to create a new generation of Indian players.”

Bigger goal is Olympic qualifying race for 2028 LA Games

Three years in the National Centre of Excellence, Guwahati and the results are beginning to show. However, Park sees the two titles as stepping stones to bigger achievements.

“I think winning two BWF 300-level titles in the last two weeks is a good achievement, but they are only 300-level tournaments. The players are now looking towards the 500, 750 and 1000-level tournaments,” he said. “Our bigger goal is the same for both Tanvi and Ashmita. From May 1 next year, the Olympic qualifying race for the 2028 Los Angeles Games will begin, so next year is going to be very important. “We will start playing more 500-level tournaments, and they can also play 750-level tournaments. After today’s result, Ashmita’s world ranking should improve enough for her to enter some of those tournaments.” For Tanvi and Ashmita to genuinely challenge for an Olympic place, it’s a tough road ahead.