As Ayush Shetty stands on the cusp of ending India's 61-year quest for a men's singles title at the Badminton Asia Championships, former champion Dinesh Khanna finds himself witnessing a story he knows all too well.
Khanna's own victory in 1965 remains India's only achievement in this prestigious event. He won against expectations, an unseeded player who wasn't expected to advance far in the competition. Now, six decades later, he sees striking parallels in Shetty's remarkable run.
"I have to say there are quite a few similarities," Khanna told PTI, following Ayush's impressive charge into the final in Ningbo, China. "The way I was unseeded and went all the way. Similarly, Ayush's current international ranking is relatively low, and he's also unseeded."
"Initially, many hopes were placed on Lakshya Sen. Unfortunately, he was eliminated in the very first round. So, I must say there are many resemblances between what happened to me in 1965 and Ayush's situation now – being unseeded, unheralded, and reaching the finals."
In 1965, Khanna, a fresh engineering graduate, entered the championship as India's fourth-ranked player. He was largely overshadowed by established stars like Suresh Goel.
Despite limited preparation, recovering from knee surgery and undergoing a brief training period, Khanna found his rhythm as the tournament progressed. He relied on his resilience and composure under pressure to overcome his opponents.
"I had undergone open knee surgery in 1963 due to a cartilage tear," Khanna said. "I was advised to focus on rehabilitation and strengthening my legs before returning to the court. I was in the shadow of Nandu Natekar and Suresh Goyal. For the Asian Championship, we had two selection tournaments. I lost in the semifinals, but I was pleased that my knee was functioning well," he said.
Khanna's momentum built with a physically demanding quarterfinal match. He then defeated Goel in the semifinals, a result that defied the anticipated outcome. His final opponent was Thailand's Sangob Rattanusorn, another point of connection with Ayush's journey. Ayush himself had to overcome the top seed and defending champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, in the semifinals to secure his place in the final.
Khanna's quarterfinal victory came against Japan's Yoshinori Itagaki, a player known for his defensive play, much like Khanna himself.
"In the quarterfinals, I defeated the Japanese player, Itagaki. He was, I believe, the national champion at that time. He was also a defensive player, similar to me. We engaged in some very long rallies. In the second game, the score reached 12-all, and both of us appeared completely exhausted," Khanna recounted. "The chief referee mentioned that he had requested two stretchers to be kept ready for the third game, given the intensity of the rallies. At 12-all, he suddenly backed off, and I won the second game 15-12."
Speaking about his final opponent, Rattanusorn, Khanna said, "At that time, we didn't participate in many international tournaments, so it was difficult to gauge our standing against such players. However, he was a recognized player, and they possessed significantly more international experience than us Indians then. But somehow, I didn't feel much pressure."
While Khanna's game was built on a sturdy defence, Ayush has showcased a relentless attacking style. Now, Khanna eagerly awaits Ayush's success and his potential to join him in the record books. He highlights Ayush's ability to manage pressure in crucial moments as a key factor in his campaign.
"He lost the first game quite easily, but after that, he made a remarkable comeback in the second game," Khanna observed. "I must say he kept his nerve at that critical juncture, which was very important." He also credited Vimal Kumar (Director at Bangalore Centre For Excellence), Sagar Chopda, and Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama for their guidance to the young player.
"Sometimes, when an opponent builds such a significant lead and you've lost the first game, the pressure can be immense. Ayush handled that pressure exceptionally well. I was also very impressed with his smashing, even from deep within the baseline. He was able to hit winners, and his attacking game was very impressive. His net play was excellent too," Khanna added. "He managed all of this very well and emerged victorious, and we have high hopes for him in the finals."