Here is more good news for Indian badminton. Aditya Joshi, who trains at the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bangalore, has become world No 1 in the Badminton World Federation’s junior rankings.
The 17-year-old from Madhya Pradesh tops the chart ahead of Indonesia’s Christie Jonatan and China’s Zhao Jun Peng. Joshi has made steady progress in recent times, according to Vimal Kumar, former national coach. He won the national junior title last May beating Kerala’s Arun George.
Aditya’s father Atul Joshi is an SAI badminton coach in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. His brother Pratul is a well known player, who made headlines two years ago when he shocked former world champion Taufiq Hidayat in the Indian Open.
Vimal said several promising players like Sameer Verma, Saurabh Verma, Pratul and Aditya Joshi have come up from the SAI centre in Dhar. “It has seen some talented players. The Verma brothers moved to Pullela Gopichand’s academy in Hyderabad, while the Joshi siblings joined the Padukone academy.”
Vimal said Aditya has a good physique and will grow taller. “He controls the shuttle very well and in the last few years, he has become more deceptive and plays an attacking game. But we are working on his temperament,” the coach said.
Vimal said Aditya has the potential to break into the top 30 in the senior section in two years. “He is just 17. He is a wonderful prospect. He has beaten a couple of senior players. Becoming junior world No 1 will encourage him to become a better player.”
