Badminton players success stories miss the spotlight many a time; but there is a change in the tide, the silver medal in the Rio Olympics brought the deserved limelight to the sport of badminton. PV Sindhu is an ideal example. Her passion for the sport has got our heads turning not just by her performance at the Rio Olympics but the sheer dedication to the sport proven by her medal victory at the age of 21. Let's look at the training routine of badminton players, cause it’s no piece of cake. Rise and shine - Can you imagine what time their day begins? 3.00 or 4.00 am! Players such as PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth began their training with their coach Pullela Gopichand at 4.30 am which went on till lunch, just an hour’s break for breakfast. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Diet and nutrition - Their diet plans are high in protein, with zero sugar. Living on such a strict diet daily just shows how dedicated they are, I mean just try and imagine living on such a diet. The purpose is to keep you fit and full of energy to last the long rounds. Good nutrition will help you concentrate during the game in order to maximise your skills. Exercise & training - The sport of badminton is a fast paced sport which requires quick reflexes, excellent balance, good reach and boundless stamina. For a player to attain all these attributes, one need to be extremely fit to withstand the long rallies. The training sessions are divided into different segments. Strength and power training - The purpose to this training is to withstand the demands of badminton. Strength and power training helps a player become strong and explosive and your body will also function better and be more resilient to injuries. Movement training - The movement sessions are designed to improve your speed and reflexes specially the footwork. They become more efficient and it helps them react instantly as repetitions of the same movement makes it a reflex action. It’s is similar to having a job, the amount of time you devote to it. You have to make these sacrifices such as having a stable job if you are passionate about the sport. It is risky but the will and humble attitude towards hard work is what makes them into a success story.
