Badminton player Arvind Bhat’s best years might be behind him, but the recent German Open gold proves he is still fighting fit

It is not the ideal time to meet Arvind Bhat. He might be one of India’s longest-serving badminton players, the winner of the recent German Open, but he has just lost to 301-ranked Ajay Kumar, in straight sets, and that too at the qualifier of the India Open Super Series.

When Bhat eventually meets me, an hour or so after his defeat, at the heavily guarded but now empty Siri Fort Stadium in Delhi, he is disappointed but not inconsolable. He even advances our appointment because he wants to “cheer for some of his buddies who will be playing later in the day.” As we sit down in a quiet corner of the stands, he says, “It’s not that Kumar blanked me out or anything. It was 20-all in both games, and in the end, he played really well,” adding, “At the same time it’s a good wake up call for me. I’m not worried too much about the bad results and try to focus on the positive.”

Bhat’s wisdom is born of experience. He has been a top badminton player for more than 12 years now, an exceptionally long stint for any athlete today. He has won at least five international tournaments, reached the national championship final six times and won it twice. He was a part of the Indian team from 2002 to 2011. He won the German badminton league in 2008, and the German Open gold was the elusive ‘big win’ he was looking for. Bhat says, “I am more proud of being the third Indian to win in Europe than to be the first to win the German Open. Indian players have won in Europe in lower levels, like challenger levels, but only Prakash Padukone and (Pullela) Gopichand have succeeded at such a premier level. While a Grand Prix Gold is not the same as a Super Series win, it is definitely comparable.”

In professional badminton, players’ calendars are divided between league tournaments, national-level tournaments, Grand Prix Gold tournaments and the most coveted Badminton World Federation’s Super Series. Bhat has been a regular ‘bridesmaid’ at many of these events but never the winner, until last month, that is. The German Open was his first title in five years and nine months. “That week I was in peak form in terms of my physical condition. I really don’t know how it happened. While the final was tight, I was glad to hold out and get the gold this time around.” Bhat defeated Danish player Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, a good 53 ranks above him, in a thrilling match. The final scores read 24-22, 19-21, 21-11 in Bhat’s favour. “I had just come from a terrible defeat by a 16-year-old boy in Bangalore. I booked my tickets (for Germany) only at the last minute,” says Bhat, “So this win was something special.”

Ups and downs

Badminton was not the obvious choice for Bhat, who grew up in Banaswadi, an eastern suburb of Bangalore. He initially took up the game because his elder brother played it and his father loved it. Not one to create his own path, he did mechanical engineering from UVC College, Bangalore,because his brother chose engineering. But the similarities ended there. He says, “My brother played at the national level but couldn’t get a job through the sport. While for me, I was lucky enough to get selected in the Indian team in 2002.” He adds, “More importantly, I got a job through the sport with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, under its sports quota. The company and other sponsors funded my equipment, travel etc. It was only after a few seasons that I decided that pursuing the sport was the best for me, financially and otherwise.”

Bhat went on to represent various German clubs in their Badminton Bundesliga, one of the best leagues for the sport in the world. He is one of the few players who thrived before the real ‘badminton boom’ came to India. As Anup Sridhar, long-time friend and contemporary says, “We were from a batch just before the one that got numerous benefits, which led to the game’s overall improvement. I’ve known Arvind since I was 10 years old. And I haven’t seen anyone more professional. If there is something to do, he makes sure he does it.” He adds, “There have been a lot of ups and downs in his career and a major ankle injury, which put him out of the game for many months, but he has come out of all that and is still a very dangerous player.”

Even after playing the game for over a decade, Bhat finds a personal coach too expensive. He trains on his own, spending two hours every day on weightlifting and running before joining the boys of the Karnataka Badminton Association for two to three hours in the afternoon. Sometimes he travels from Bangalore to Hyderabad to train at Gopichand’s academy. As a father of a young child he cannot afford to move there permanently. He adds, “In badminton, it’s so important to stay completely fit because every part of your body is worked out; and since most of the action is above the heart-level, it takes a greater toll on your body as blood constantly needs to be pumped up. Sometimes the shuttle travels at 300kmph, so you need really good reflexes too.”

Future tense

For TPS Puri, vice president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), who has watched over at least two generations of badminton players, Bhat’s German win was well-deserved. “I found him to be disciplined and committed. Arvind is a no-frills guy and his achievements are laudable.” He adds, “Yes, he has been inconsistent, but that is due to circumstances. There has been a lack of training at times, and when a player does not train enough it shows directly in his performance on the court.”

Bhat is not ready to retire just yet. However, he is certain that even after retirement he will be involved with the sport as a coach or in some other capacity. But for now, all his attention is on his game. “I know there have been a lot of fluctuations, but overall I’m happy,” he says, “I wanted one big prize catch and that has come. But I don’t feel I’m done yet. I want to give it at least one more year and make it to the top 30s. I’m currently ranked 65, so I’m going to give it my best shot.”

comment COMMENT NOW