Constant monitoring of technique is vital, says coach Jauhari

Mumbai: Veteran Indonesian badminton coach Yusuf Jauhari, who is conducting coaching clinic for beginners in five clubs here, wants the local coaches to constantly monitor and correct the players` technique.

"For beginners, you have to keep correcting the technique, grip, footwork etc for 1-2 months. In India, I see many beginners with the wrong technique. The coaches must correct them continuously as daily training is important," Jauhari told PTI after the first day of a two-day clinic at the Bombay Gymkhana. "This is the first time I am coaching the beginners. It`s a new experience for me. I see younger players in India having good talent. They need routine training," said the Indonesian who is a former head coach of one of junior training camps in Jakarta for more than six years. Thirty two boys and as many girls will be picked at the conclusion of the joint initiative by the Bangalore-based Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy and Tata Capital for a two-day tournament at the Cricket Club of India on June 15 and 16 after which one boy and one girl will be chosen for further training. Even at the age of 56 the Indonesian, brother of Atik Jauhari who had coached the Indian team for three years in the run up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, looked pretty agile and speedy during his short physical training and stretching session with the children aged between 6 and 12. "Agility (training) without speed is not agility. You have to do it with speed," he said. Turning to Indian badminton, Jauhari said he liked the players for their stroke-play though he felt they could do better on the physical fitness front. "I like Indian badminton. So many have good strokes. Maybe they need more physical (fitness)." The Indonesian coach identified three boys - Karthik, Lakshya, Rahul - with whom he has signed a one-year contract. The Prakash Padukone Academy trainees had trained with him at Jakarta for one month. According to Jauhari, the Indian youngsters had to juggle badminton training with their academic studies which is not the case in Indonesia. "In Indonesia the beginners are coached in clubs three days a week where their mistakes are corrected constantly. In Mumbai, for example, they have to study, go to school, but in Indonesia it`s training, training and more training," he said. He was candid in saying that the clinics like the ones he was conducting as a maiden experience were not enough. "Clinics like these where kids train for 2 hours (in the morning) and then 2 hours (later) for one day are not enough," he conceded. PTI