Sidhraj Salgaonkar - This biker from Goa rode alone across India’s 29 states, despite an accident

Sidhraj Salgaonkar

When Sidhraj Salgaonkar set out on his dream trip across the 29 states of India in the summer of 2015, he wasn’t prepared for what life would throw at him. Four months into the trip, he met with an accident, which not only jeopardised his journey, but also left him with injuries that he took two-and- a-half years to recover from. Fast forward to 2018, he restarted the trip from where he had left off — on the same day when he met with the accident three years ago. Using that same spot as a starting point, he completed the trip — crossing several state borders, collecting experiences and making memories to last a lifetime.

THE ACCIDENT


In 2015, he started riding towards the east coast and stopped at Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh, which is known as the Grand Canyon of India. “I started in March 2015, with a plan to go to all 29 states. I drove to Hampi, Karnataka, and headed towards the east coast and started riding from Gandikota. It’s non-touristy and beautiful. Then I crossed Vishakhapatnam, Vijaywada, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata before I entered the North East. After completing the seven sisters, my plan was to go to North India,” he shares.

Four months into the trip, on his journey from Varanasi to Agra, in mid-July, he met with an accident in Chambal Ghati, Madhya Pradesh. “I was unconscious for a while. When I regained consciousness, I was wondering if I was sleeping on the road. I made an effort to get up, but I couldn’t. My right side was numb. I could see cars passing by, but nobody stopped. I was later told that many suspicious incidents, including murders take place there, hence people think twice before stopping to help,” he says.

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Sidhraj spent months in the hospital before returning home. “I couldn’t walk as I had three major fractures and a nerve injury. I hardly had any bruises, because I was wearing my gear. But there were several internal injuries because of which I couldn’t complete the ride. I had to undergo a surgery after six months. The entire recovery process took over two years,” he says.

This year, on July 12, he went to the exact accident spot and started again, travelling through Punjab, Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, Spiti Valley and several places in Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir before passing through Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, a bit of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. From there, he drove to Pondicherry via Hyderabad and Chennai. Next on his itinerary was Kanyakumari, and finally back home to to Goa via Kerala and Karnataka.

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES

“When you travel, you realise that there are really nice people everywhere. When I would put up my tent in deserted areas of Spiti Valley, people would serve me food and make sure I was okay,” he says. Talking about his fondest memories, he recalls, “One of the nicest feeling was to reach Kargil on Kargil Vijay Diwas. I reached the LoC on Independence Day. It’s very difficult to describe the feeling. I saw a flag at one of the posts in the distance and it gave me goosebumps.”

Arunachal Pradesh gave him some memorable experiences. “It started raining heavily when I was riding towards Tawang through Sela Pass, and I was totally caught offguard. The conditions got worse in a while. Finally, I reached a village on my way downhill. I met a drunk guy. While he wanted to talk to me about my journey, I kept asking him about a place to stay. He asked me if I had a sleeping bag and when I said yes, he took me to his shop and let me stay there for the night. We bonded and formed an amazing connection. We are still in touch, years later.”

WHAT WILL YOU GROOVE TO THIS PARTY SEASON?

WHAT WILL YOU GROOVE TO THIS PARTY SEASON?
BT got the Bollywood music industry insiders to talk about the grooviest party tracks


With 2018 wrapping up and the party season well on its way, the playlist is what tops the priority list for music lovers. The year gone by has seen some fab compositions, quirky beats and tracks that have had the power to pull you to the dance floor. If you are wondering what to groove to this party season — this is the grooviest list in town. Bollywood music industry insiders reveal their favourite party numbers from 2018 and give the lowdown on all that’s great about these chartbusters.

CATCHY AND MELODIOUS


Singer Harshdeep Kaur, known for her work in Raazi, Manmarziyaan and Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi is all for Tareefan from Veere Di Wedding. And she is bang on. This track refused to budge from the Mirchi Top 20 Charts for over 22 weeks this year. She says, “It’s catchy and melodious at the same time. The music producer did a brilliant job and the treatment given to the sound was so fresh. Badshah brought his own swag to it. Apart from the music, the video of the song too was eye-catchy and classy.” Composer Amaal Mallik agree with Harshdeep and adds, “Kudos to Badshah and Qaran Mehta for Tareefan and Zack Knight, Jasmine Walia for Bom Diggy (which was also used in the film, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety). The music production is so new-age in both these songs. It’s an amazing blend of reggaeton and tropical pop elements. Both tracks have fantastic word play, a really catchy composition fused with Punjabi lyrics.”

QUIRKY VIBES ARE A PARTY STARTER

Who says that only EDM can make it to the top of party song lists? 2018 has had its share of quirky, funky tracks too. Singer Kavita Seth shares, “The song DhyaanChand from Manmarziyaan is a great party track. I like the blend of foot-tapping music and melody that Amit Trivedi has managed to infuse into this track, which also has a raw Indian vibe to it. I was able to connect to the sounds of this quirky number.”

GOOD DANCE MUSIC NEEDS A GREAT DROP

A variety of factors contribute to making a song top the party list. For composer Amaal, a song is branded as the ‘best party song’ based on how frequently they are played. He says, “For me a good song is one that is hummable, has lyrics that have meaning, along with some good phonetics. In today’s time, the most important bit in dance music is the drop. That is a melodic, non-lyrical section with catchy beats and just a musical riff and a good bass line. And in both Tareefan and Bom Diggy, the drop is melodious and has a jump too.” Singer Neeti Mohan seconds that and says, “Bom Diggy Diggy is among the best party songs this year and it has a cool composition. The drop is what makes it sound so cool.”

GROOVY YET NOT IN THE FACE

For the king of remixes, Tanishk Bagchi, the arrangement and the treatment play an important part in making the perfect party track. He says, “From the vibe and arrangement, to the treatment, Tareefan is a super cool track. It is different and the tune sets in so smooth. It’s a groovy number, but its not in your face. It definitely makes it to my list of top three dance numbers of 2018. The other songs are Dilbar from Satyameva Jayate and Aankh Marey from Simmba.”

ORIGINALS ALWAYS WORK

For singer Aditi Singh Sharma, Zack Knight’s Bom Diggy is a certified masterstroke. She says, “It’s so good to hear an original composition become such a big hit. It has been a hit in both its reiterations — in the film Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety as well as Zack’s independent single, too. The first time I heard this song I almost ended up memorising the lyrics at the first go. The kind of musical nuances that Zack has integrated into the song are really cool.”

DHOL GROOVES AND FOLK TUNES ARE IN

Composer Nakash Aziz swears by Yo Yo Honey Singh’s Dil Chori Sada Ho Gaya from Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. He says, “This is a simple song with great dhol grooves, two chords and a folk tune. I just love the way the bass kicks in after the hook of the song. It’s got a very groovy feel. Honey Singh is a fantastic artiste.” Chogada from LoveYatri is another track that people want to dance to this party season. Singer Praakriti Kakar says, “Firstly, Chogada is an original composition and for an original dance number to become a rage and top the charts, has to be special. Darshan Rawal’s voice suits the song perfectly and the composers DJ Chetas and Lijo have nailed it with the fabulous blend of commercial and folk sounds. The fact that it has Hindi lyrics along with Gujarati, makes it massy.”

BEAT-HEAVY TRACKS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN POPULAR

When it comes to pure dance tracks, nothing beats Bollywood songs like Zingaat (Dhadak), Kamariya (Stree and Mitron), Khali Bali (Padmaavat), Dilbar (Satyameva Jayate) and Proper Patola (Namaste England). Mumbai’s disc and radio jockeys feel that the language and lyrics do not hold too much importance when it comes to beat-heavy tracks — especially when people are looking at dancing the night away.

Diet and exercise might reverse ageing in the brain, says research

While it’s a known fact that a healthy diet and exercise are important to maintain good health, a latest study has shown just how much they actually benefit the brain, and even possibly reverse effects of ageing. In a study, researchers led by James Blumenthal, a professor in psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, found that even among a group of older people who already show signs of thinking problems, exercising regularly over six months and eating more healthy can improve performance on cognitive tests.

The 160 people began the study showing thinking skills that were similar to people in their 90s — 28 years older, on average, than they actually were. The volunteers were divided into four groups. One group participated in an aerobic exercise program, another was assigned a low-sodium diet, a third was asked to exercise and change their diet at the same time, and a fourth control group was provided educational sessions about how to improve their brain health.


The group that exercised and changed its diet at the same time showed the greatest improvements in cognitive tests after six months. They improved their test scores by nine years, to resemble those of people 84 years old. The control group showed a continued decline in their brain test scores, and the researchers did not see a significant benefit from either exercise or change in diet alone. “The bottom line is that it’s not too late to derive benefits from exercise,” says Blumenthal.

The fact that the group following both the exercise and diet programs showed the greatest benefit suggests that the two interventions may work together to improve brain health, Blumenthal says. “We saw evidence that exercise and the diet together are better than nothing,” he says. “We showed you can get improvements in function that can reduce and certainly improve neurocognitive function, and possibly even postpone development of dementia late in life.”

SHOP ON A BUDGET AT THIS SHOPPING FESTIVAL

With all the fantastic luxury fashion available in Dubai’s numerous malls and shopping districts, there are still plenty of spots to find delightful discounts. Luckily for shoppers, there are numerous places where surplus fashion, beauty and home furnishings are marked down on price. From big name luxury fashion brands to sports and highstreet lines, don’t miss out on great bargains at the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) from December 26 to February 2, 2019.

THE OUTLET VILLAGE


Think luxury brands and much more for less at The Outlet Village, Dubai’s discount shopping hub which opened in September 2016. At this Italian-themed indoor shopping spot, you’ll find luxury handbags at 50 per cent off, making it well-worth the 45-minute drive from the city centre. Plus, right next door is the ultimate theme park destination, Dubai Parks & Resorts, so combine fun and fashion for a fine day out.

THE OUTLET MALL

Not to be confused with its newer counterpart, The Outlet Mall is a shopping haven dedicated to fashion and lifestyle. All the big-name shopping emporiums send past season’s stock to The Outlet Mall, meaning there is a huge selection of luxury items from world-known designers to high street names sold at a fraction of their original price. There is also a great selection of home furnishings with slashed prices. This is a one-stop shopping destination for luxury lovers who can’t resist a bargain.

GARDEROBE

Pre-loved luxury is Garderobe’s USP, connecting bargain hunters with luxury goods that have been preowned. With a boutique on Beach Road in Jumeirah and an online store where you can browse bags, shoes and fashion from designers, ranging in price from AED500 to AED40,000. Nobody can resist the buzz of finding something coveted for a fraction of its original price, and with a number of high fashion lovers in the region constantly renewing their wardrobes, the stock in Garderobe is constantly being refreshed, making it a regular stop for those in the know.

BURJUMAN CENTRE: BUR DUBAI

BurJuman Centre’s longstanding history as an established shopping destination paired with a great variety of leading retailers, a state-ofthe-art cinema along and wide range of dining options make this mall a must-see. Shifting with the times, this once luxury retail destination now features popular global brands.

If you start to see these signs, you probably need a long break from social media

Social media has become as integral a part of our lives as eating and drinking, and if that’s not a sign of how unhealthy this addiction has become, we don’t know what is. If you’re going out, you put up stories; if it’s raining too much, you put up a post; you’re eating something new, you take a billion pictures to post, and so on and so forth. We know that this social media-dependent lifestyle doesn’t seem out-of-the-ordinary anymore because it’s how everyone lives. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay, or that we should continue on this vein of becoming more and more dependent on virtual gratification.

While we can’t pinpoint when we started living more for likes and comments, versus actually enjoying things in the moment, we can make a change now, before it’s too late. We’re not saying you need to completely give up on social media, but maybe taking a break or reducing the number of platforms you use or posts you put up, can be a good start. So, if you see any of these signs, you should know it’s time to sever your ties with social media.


People on the interweb know more about your life than those closest to you

If you ever get to a place where your social media followers know more about the ins and outs of your life than your family, friends or significant other, then it’s time to make a change. You may not think there’s anything wrong until it affects your relationship with the real people around you. So, don’t let that it get to that point.

You go to unbelievable lengths, just to get the perfect picture

We all take numerous pictures until we find the one that is perfect to post on social media, and that’s okay if it happens once in a while. But if you find yourself going to bizarre lengths to click a picture to post on Instagram — for example, taking a selfie right before you bungee jump or signing up for something just so you can get a picture out of it — you know there’s something wrong.

Your instant reflex at all times is to check social media

Whether you’re sitting in a waiting room at the doctor’s or even out for dinner with your friends, if your first reaction is to check social media updates, you have a problem. It’s not normal, not to mention rude, for you to constantly turn to social media, especially when you’re around people; and it’s a definite sign that you’re far too dependent on social media.

Social outings in your life are more like social media outings

Any plan that involves you interacting with other real human beings needs to be broadcast across your various social media platforms, because if it’s not on social media, it didn’t happen, right? Wrong. Get this warped idea out of your head and truly enjoy the moments you’re part of, with the people who truly matter to you. Stop living your life longing for appreciation from virtual strangers.

You can chronologically list out what’s been going on in your favourite celebrities’ lives

It’s okay to scroll through the Instagram feed of your favourite celebs. But if you can know what Katrina Kaif is eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner; or every detail of Zac Efron’s vacation, you’re spending too much time on social media. It’s a good time to take that break now.

Your daily life is affected far too much by social media happenings

If not getting enough likes or comments on a post, or seeing a post that you don’t like, sends you down an emotionally unstable spiral, that’s not okay. You will never be able to disconnect yourself from the virtual world if this is how much it affects you — take some time out, now.

Hollywood actor James McAvoy

‘I THINK I AM AN ATTRACTIVE PERSON, BUT I’M NOT IN THE LEAGUE OF THE BETTER-LOOKING ACTORS’
Hollywood actor James McAvoy, popular as Professor X from X-Men, talks to BT about his films and why he is okay with not being nominated at the Oscars


Scottish actor James McAvoy, known as Professor X (Charles Xavier) by X-Men movie buffs, grabbed eyeballs when he played Mr Tumnus in The Chronicles Of Narnia. However, it was his role in The Last King Of Scotland (2006) that shot him to fame as a promising young actor. From Atonement, Becoming Jane and Penelope (2007) to Wanted (2008) and the X-Men series, his shift to commercial Hollywood cinema hasn’t stopped him from indulging in what he does best — portray characters with internal conflicts. Over a phone call, James spoke to BT on his upcoming movie Glass, failing to bag an Oscar nomination, his take on Bollywood and more. Excerpts...

You once said, ‘I’m 5’7”, and I’ve got pasty white skin. I don’t think I’m ugly, but I’m not your classic lead man, Brad Pitt guy.’ Given your massive female fan following, you seem to underrate yourself a lot...


I think that I said this when I was in my mid-20s. I do think that I am an attractive person, but I am not in the league of the better-looking actors. However, I think that I have done pretty well with what has been given to me (laughs!). Not everybody can be or should be the most attractive example of humanity. We need every single grade and I think I am fairly ineluctable. It allows me to play a wide variety of roles. No one says things like, ‘He is ugly enough for this role’ or whatever. People don’t typecast me in any role, because I think that I am fairly average as a human being to look at. It’s easier for me to go in any direction.

You won rave reviews for Split (2016), where you played a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder. Many thought you deserved an Oscar nomination for that, but you didn’t. Was it disappointing?

Not really. I have been acting for 20 years and I am used to people telling me that I should have been nominated for this role or that role, but I am used to not being nominated. I haven’t been nominated (for the Oscar) even once, so it’s really fine. What matters to me is getting exciting work and wanting to do it every single day. Of course it’s great if you win awards, but I don’t lose sleep over it.

Portraying 24 personalities — did that affect you as a person?

Split didn’t affect me, but I have done films that sort of affected me negatively. Danny Boyle’s Trance (2013) did that. I didn’t feel very good about myself when I did that film and that’s obviously because of the character that I played.


JAMES MCAVOY


... in the

X-Men

I have done films that affected me negatively.

Danny Boyle’s Trance did that: James McAvoy

Weirdly in Glass and Split, I was happy that I had so much work to do. Playing multiple characters... there’s a lot of heavy lifting and it was a positive challenge. .

Your forthcoming film — M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero thriller Glass is being touted as Avengers for adults. Do you agree?

That’s a nice thing to say. It’s similar in a way that it’s about a group of people who are in a similar situation. They have their own clashes, but are forced to work together. It’s a fantasy as well, but perhaps, more realistic the way Night (Shyamalan) has made it. I not only enjoyed the action and the physical stunts, but also this unrealistic side to the beast (his character).

It was funny how you clarified on Instagram that you didn’t consume 6,000 calories a day to get bigger for your role in Glass...

When I gave an interview for Split, I said that (I eat 6000 calories a day) jokingly, and they knew that it was a joke! It got used out of context and I felt that I should clarify it, because there are people out there who struggle with their fitness and diet, or are obsessive about it.

I just got worried that someone might actually try it, as there are people who take what’s out there on the internet seriously without giving it a thought. I did eat plenty of food, about five meals a day, but I didn’t count the calories per se and it wasn’t 6000 for sure.

While you are known to be a good actor, Shyamalan seems to know how to extract the best out of you. What sets him apart as a director?

He is technically gifted. He knows how to go about the business of making a movie. They don’t all know how to do that. He is good with actors and speaks our language. He knows what he wants and that makes it easier for us. Night (Shyamalan) is organised and his preparation is second to none.

You did a British film called Bollywood Queen (2003) early on in your career. Hope you didn’t get a wrong impression of the Hindi film industry, Bollywood, based on that experience?

No! Not at all. It was very British, inspired by the love of Bollywood, and I think that it was nothing like a Bollywood film (laughs!)

Unlike your otherwise clever choices, that film was extremely disappointing...

Yes, it wasn’t a script that could connect with people.

When will we see you in India?

I would love to come to India. I have heard incredible things about it. I will go wherever the movies take me and I hope to come to Mumbai soon.

‘A vibrant nightlife will contribute to the livability and lovability of Mumbai’

...say restaurant owners and Mumbaikars, who are hopeful about a proposal to allow restaurants and pubs in the city to stay open 24 hours


Mumbai is said to be the city that never sleeps. That tag might ring true, only if the proposal to keep restaurants and bars open 24X7, goes through. The Yuva Sena chief, Aaditya Thackeray, has revisited his five-year-old proposal to allow city restaurants and pubs stay open 24 hours. Aaditya stresses on the point that it’s a matter of citizens’ rights and they need to be ‘given time to unwind after work’. However, this is with regard to only legal activities in non-residential areas.

As per a report, he has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the matter. While the CM’s office has not mentioned anything about it yet, Mumbaikars, are keeping fingers crossed for this proposal to see the light of day. Restaurant owners and Mumbaikars spoke to BT about the kind of difference a move like this would make to their lifestyle and to the culture of the city....


‘It is the nightlife that gives a city its pace. It’s where culture thrives and where you meet people’

Riyaaz Amlani, President of the National Restaurant Association of India, is optimistic about the 24X7 proposal seeing concretisation. “It is something we have been fighting for, since the last six years. We strongly believe that by having a vibrant Mumbai, it will mean more than having the liberty to party. It will contribute tremendously to the livability and lovability of the city. In terms of attracting tourists, this will have an impact, too. Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in the world, but we see only see 5 lakh tourists per year, versus say a Bangkok, that sees 15 million. If you take a look at the most visited cities, like Paris, New York, London or Vegas, it’s not the historical monuments that drive tourism in a city, but the nightlife, as that is what gives a city its pace. It’s where culture thrives and where you meet people. But take a look at our lifestyle, we have been in a state of partial curfew. What is it that is legal in the day that becomes illegal in the night? Drinking and driving can be monitored, can’t it?

‘It will be a boon if the government creates zones which have 24/7 restaurants, as it is important to not disturb residents’

Sumit Gambhir of a gastropub at Colaba, says, “Mumbai, being the financial capital, when tourists come into the city, they are left struggling for food options, as all they have during early hours of the morning are five-star hotels or street food stalls. People must have 24-hour restaurant options in Mumbai, and asking for this is not unfair, it is a necessity. If people want to keep their premises open, they should be allowed to. From the employment point of view, it will mean job opportunities. So, if this proposal goes through, it will be a positive change.”

Restaurateur Amit Jambotkar affirms the view and suggests having specific zones to take the plan ahead. “Mumbai is an international city and we need a nightlife to match that. Providing food 24/7 is like providing one of the essential services. I think it will be a boon if the government creates zones which have 24/7 restaurants, as it is of prime importance not to disturb residents,” he says.

Call for: Night Mayors

Riyaaz also advocates the idea of having night mayors for Mumbai. “Today, cities across the world have woken up to night-time economy and have created night mayors. London has a night mayor, Berlin has one, so does New York. Their basic job is to increase night time economy.

This is not just about going out, partying and drinking. Today, if you go to Worli Seaface, you will see thousands of people just hanging out in the open space as they want to belong to the city. So, having a nightlife is also the ability to take a walk on Marine Drive at 3 am. Today, you are chased away. If I want to go shopping at night, I should be able to. Let’s have our own night mayors.”


Mumbaikars might soon be able to enjoy an all-night dining experience


Present deadline is 5 am for December 31
Currently, the night-time deadline for restaurants and pubs is 1.30 am on regular days, with establishments allowed to remain open until 5 am on December 31.

Will Mumbai get to see 24x7 nightlife, soon?

‘WE ARE A CITY THAT WORKS HARD AND WE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTY HARD, ESPECIALLY ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS’

For Mumbaikars who are used to used to working round-the-clock, this might just be just the respite that they need. Says Gauri Nayar, communications professional, “I think it’s a great idea for the city to remain open all night on New Year’s Eve. We are a city that works so hard and we should therefore, have an opportunity to party hard, especially on special occasions. If residents are offered an option to celebrate all night, while feeling safe and secure, I believe they would welcome it.”

Adds Sameer Malkani of the Food Bloggers Association of India, “This will be a good move, if it happens in a controlled way. You need to also consider costs versus footfalls. As a Mumbaikar, I think it would be the one of best things to happen. It’s nice to know there’s always something buzzing around. We work late hours and the real leisure happens only post midnight, so this would be apt for us.”

‘WE REALLY OWE IT TO OUR CITIES AND OURSELVES TO GET OUT OF THIS STATE OF PARTIAL CURFEW. AND WHERE ELSE, BUT MUMBAI?’

While the proposal to allow establishments to operate through the night might need its safety nets and rules, restaurateur Amrish Arora hopes for a start. “I think 24 hours for a restaurant may not be as viable as they would be for a bar, but instead, how about taking baby steps and going halfway till 3 am? I have been fighting long for restaurants to have a 3 am deadline on all days. Today, if you go out after your work day (post 10 pm), you might want to party beyond the 1.30 am deadline. When they allow bars in five star hotels to remain open till 3 am, why discriminate against us restaurants?”

Riyaaz Amlani adds, “Another fallacy is that this move will make the city more unsafe, but I think that it will actually become safer. There will be more people on the roads and hence, more policing. In Mumbai, over the last few years, we have got permission to stay open till 5 am on December 24 and 31st and there has been no drastic increase in crime on these days. So, you can’t hold back an entire culture and employment of lakhs of people just on the pretext that people are drinking and driving.”

On a hopeful note, he sums up, “A move like this will also really spring the economy of Mumbai. The Maharashtra Government has been pushing for it strongly and I hope that by being the first city to actually implement this, we can set an example to the rest of the country. We really owe it to our cities and ourselves to get out of this state of partial curfew. And where else, but Mumbai?”

‘21-POINT FORMAT IS FANTASTIC TO WATCH’

P V Sindhu, Carolina Marin and Saina Nehwal got together at the TOI office in Hyderabad and spoke at length about a variety of subjects. The World No. 3, 6 and 9, respectively, found common ground on the 21-point rule, and poor scheduling of tournaments by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The latter is taking a toll on their bodies, was the collective refrain. The trio–here on a Premier Badminton League (PBL) assignment–was also all praise for the league. Excerpts:
Three times world champion, Olympic champion. How do you motivate yourself to keep going after having achieved so much ever since you turned pro in 2005?

MARIN: I just want to keep improving my game. Now it’s becoming very tough as we have to play so many tournaments and also take care of my injuries. But my next goal is to win the All England in March and then the World Championships. Yes, it is difficult to motivate myself after winning so many major titles. But I just want to keep improving my game — my mental game, my physical aspect — and be ready for the next tournament.


You have this remarkable tendency to raise your game in the final. Is it a deliberate strategy or is it merely rising to the occasion? What do you do differently to achieve that?

I give 100% in the final. My preparation for big tournaments is to the best of my ability because that’s my main goal for my team and for myself. We just try to give our best to win big titles.

Which title do you cherish the most?

Every title is different. When I won the first World Championship, it was unbelievable for me, because I was really tired when I reached the final. I didn’t expect to win that game. But of them all, the Olympic Games title is very special.

Having played PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, who is the hardest nut to crack?

Both are tough competitors. Both have different styles and I need to have a different strategy for them. I cannot choose one of them because both are very good.

Do you think Saina and Sindhu have achieved their potential?

I am very sure they can go for more. Sindhu is younger than Saina but I think both of them can improve a lot.

There’s a Sindhu after Saina in India, but there’s no one yet after Marin in Spain despite your achievements…

You cannot compare badminton with football. Of course, badminton is getting more popular. Children and many parents are turning up for this game. It’s good that Spanish broadcasters are telecasting my games. Now there are so many young players like me. Some are doing good. But let’s see what happens in future. They know their way because they can look at me in practice. But they have to work hard to achieve these titles.

The Japanese players are doing well in all categories. Your take on that and do you think there is a paradigm shift from China to Japan?

Every country will do something different to be on the top. Japan are doing really good. Even Okuhara and Yamaguchi are improving a lot. We cannot compare countries, but the coaches are doing their best for their players.

How do you think PBL-like tournaments help players like you and badminton?

Tourneys like PBL help the players a lot. PBL is the best league in the world now. We have several best players in the world playing here. Everyone likes to play here, we can improve our game and we can play as a team.

You have been with Hyderabad Hunters last and in Hyderabad for quite some time. What all do you like about this city?

I like the crowd, the Hunters army. They are fantastic. When I played here they were amazing.

‘I always look to come back stronger’

You’ve salvaged the year by winning the BWF World Finals title. Were you tense before the final given the way the five previous finals — including the Commonwealth Games — panned out in the year?

SINDHU: This year I have played four finals and lost. But I won the Tour Final. I am very happy about it and that it came at the year-end made it more special. This also gives me a lot of confidence for the year ahead.

Are you taking any help from a psychologist on how to deal with tough situations, especially crucial junctures of a match. If not, how do you hold your nerve?

There’s nothing of that sort or I’d say there’s nothing going wrong in the final. You win some and lose some. I’d rather look at it this way: that I am very happy to come to the final and win silver than to see it as losing in the final. There’s no mindset or mind games going on when I come to the final and lose.

What do you think went wrong in those finals? If you were to play them again, would you play them differently? Is luck a factor?

Luck sometimes, yeah. But I can’t depend on it all the time. Usually after matches I go back, rectify my mistakes and come back stronger. Definitely, there will be some mistakes. So it’s good to go back and discuss with your coach and not repeat those mistakes again.

How does it feel now that the final jinx is over?

Yes, finally. Nobody will now be able to ask me: silver again?

Did it upset you, people constantly questioning your ability to overcome the final frontier? Or add to the pressure on you to deliver?

I never felt bad. It’s a thin line. You win some and lose some. It’s all part of the game. You have to take it in a very positive way.

You chose to train separately at a different academy. Is it helping you or do you miss good sparring partners as most of the top Indian shuttlers are at the other venue?

It (the move) has been helping me because we have some Indonesian coaches. Gopi sir is always there. Sometimes other players come where I train and I play with them. It’s helping me.

Your most memorable win and the most painful loss in your career so far?

Every tournament I won is very memorable. You can’t compare one tournament with another. I would say Olympics is one of the great moments even though I lost in the final. Getting a silver is definitely a very proud moment for me. I think apart from that I have played a lot of finals and lost them. If I have to pick one, I would say the World Championships last year where I played (Nozomi) Okuhara and lost 22-20 after a very long match. I felt very bad. It could’ve been anybody’s game. Luck didn’t favour me then.

Do you see any youngster in your academy ready for the big stage?

There are a lot of youngsters. Gopi sir’s daughter (Gayatri) is doing well. It will take time for them to reach this level.

All England Championships is the next big tournament for you. Last year you reached the semifinal, do you reckon this could be your year?

There’s some time before All England. There’s the Malaysian and other tournaments. Every tournament is important.

‘When I get injured, I tend to get a little lazy’

It’s a huge decision for every sportsperson and you took the plunge this year. How different is life after marriage?

SAINA: Two days after marriage, we started travelling and preparing for PBL in Mumbai. The only change is I’m strict with my diet and with the way I approach the injury (shin) that I have… He (Kashyap) is continuously telling me how to handle the situation so that I can be back on court sooner and start playing at the level I have to. When I get injured, I tend to get a little lazy. So that’s what we’ve been doing since marriage. Injury happens when you try to push your body beyond limits. I had to continue till Syed Modi. Otherwise, things are the same since we know each other for a long time.

What would be your pick if asked to choose between badminton and Kashyap?

I like winning more. I like badminton, I like Kashyap, too, but more than that I like winning. That’s why I have Kashyap. So now I have everything.

Compared to other sport, badminton has more couples playing the game. Any specific reason?

That’s because they are together most of the time. It’s not easy to play and party and go to different fields to find a boy or girl who is easy to communicate or easy to be with. Sportspersons are difficult to understand. That’s the fact. People may laugh, but we have different emotions which only sportspersons can understand. Besides, we tour a lot together and probably that’s how it happens.

How is PBL helping badminton and players like you?

It’s one of the biggest leagues in the world. There is no such league at this level. There is one league in China but that is only for the Chinese players. Full credit to PBL because it is not easy to call top players and handle their practice timings so well. PBL is a success and now more players want to come. The competition is of international standards. Juniors will learn a lot. I can see a lot of Indian girls liking badminton now.

After three years with Awadhe Warriors, you’ve moved to North Eastern Warriors for the fourth edition of PBL...

We won the matches we expected to win. At the moment I feel everyone is prepared and working well.

You’ve played some tough opponents and were the first to overcome the Chinese barrier. But who’s the toughest you’ve faced?

It has to be Tai Tzu Ying. She’s given me a tough time. Then we have Carolina (Marin), who is a major threat to most players. These two have been really fantastic. Their journey has been good for the last two, three years. They a re tough to crack, but I have to work hard.

Is it safe to assume that Chinese dominance is a thing of the past?

We can’t say that. The Chinese were champions for many years. Maybe in the last two years they have not done well but now I feel they are back. Now there is a new crop of players doing well. They know how to produce champions.

What are your next targets?

To stay injury-free. The way I’ve been playing in the last three-four months, I can see improvement. In the Denmark Open, I reached the final. I want to stay injury-free and improve.

You once said you’re not cut out for coaching. Any rethink on that front?

It’s not that I don’t like coaching. It’s not easy. I would help in any way possible.