As reported by orangecitysports.com on January 1, 2021, former world No. 1 Mathias Boe of Denmark will work with Indian doubles badminton players Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy in the lead up to 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
This sports scribe had reported about the likely appointment of Mathias Boe around three weeks ago when the talks between Badminton Association of India (BAI), Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Mathais Boe were in the initial phase.
London 2012 Olympics silver medallist in the men’s doubles, the 40-year-old Boe will add a great value to the coaching staff of the Indian doubles team. The decision to rope in the Danish doubles star was taken by the SAI under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
Boe along with Carsten Mogensen was a force to reckon with in the doubles circuit. The former world No. 1 won the Olympic silver medal in 2012 and went on to win laurels at World Championships, All England Championships and Thomas Cup.
India’s premier men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who had reached the semifinal last week at Thailand, is delighted to have Boe on board. The world No. 10 pair of Chirag and Satwik is well placed to clinch a Tokyo Olympics berth.
Incidentally it was Mumbai-based Chirag who suggested the idea of bringing in Boe to work with the doubles teams in the lead up to the Tokyo Games. The former Denmark shuttler, who has played with the Indian stars in the Premier Badminton League, will work Satwiksairaj, Chirag, Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy.
“I have played with him in Mumbai several times and he is a mentor, having guided me earlier. Working with him will definitely help us in the Olympic year. Getting to work with Boe will give us a huge psychological boost,” Chirag said while expressing his delight over the appointment of Boe.
The BAI general secretary Ajay Singhania welcomed Boe’s appointment, saying his experience will “help our players with the much-needed guidance”.
“BAI welcomes Olympic medallist Mathias Boe as coach for the Indian doubles team. He has been a champion player and has mentored several Danish shuttlers during his playing time. He has also played in the PBL and has seen the Indian shuttlers from close quarters. Indian doubles players had a good run at the recently-concluded Asian leg in Thailand and we believe Boe’s valuable experience and understanding of the game will help our players with the much-needed guidance,” said Ajay Singhania.
