They might be ranked 17th in the world, but top men’s doubles shuttler Manu Attri was upbeat about his and partner B. Sumeeth Reddy’s chances of qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games.
They might be ranked 17th in the world, but top men’s doubles shuttler Manu Attri was upbeat about his and partner B. Sumeeth Reddy’s chances of qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games.
“We are the world no. 17 and the top 13 in the world rankings (from countries outside Americas, Australia and Africa) at the cut-off date in first week of May) will qualify. We are no. 9 in Olympic ranking (as only a maximum of two pairs from each country can qualify),” said Attri.
Attri’s confidence stems from the fact that in the current world men’s doubles rankings, there are more than two pairs from China (5), Korea (3) and Indonesia (3) in the top 13 and more pairs from Japan, Indonesia, China and Denmark (who have two pairs ahead of the Indian duo) behind the Indian duo in the top 25. Attri, who has now started playing mixed doubles with Ashwini Ponnappa, said the title triumph for the duo in Mexico fetched them 5,500 points and boosted their rankings.
The shuttler also said he will learn a lot playing alongside doubles specialist Mathias Boe in the PBL. Attri said the appointment of the Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her for doubles shuttlers has been a big plus.
“It’s been a big help to the players. Technically he (Tan Kim Her) is very good and very intelligent. We have worked very hard over the last two months under him.”
