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'Apart from Saina and Sindhu there's no depth in women's singles'

December 08, 2015 21:20 IST

India's Saina Nehwal returns a shot

IMAGE: India's Saina Nehwal returns a shot during the BWF World Championship in Jakarta. Photograph: Darren Whiteside/Reuters

While praising the depth in the Indian men's ranks and expecting it to last for the next 10 years, badminton legend Prakash Padukone lamented that the women's side did not possess the same depth in class after world no. 2 Saina Nehwal and no. 12 P V Sindhu. 

"I am confident about the depth in men's singles for the next ten years with so many talented youngsters ready to take over from the likes of P Kashyap once they retire.

"But the same cannot be said about the women's singles," said Prakash at the launch of the 8th edition of the USD 15,000 Tata Open India International Challenge in Mumbai on Tuesday. 

"Apart from Saina and Sindhu, there is none of international class at present. The same is true of the pairs events.

"A lot of work needs to be done in ladies singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles," said the former All England champion, whose Bengaluru-based academy is conducting the Tata Open at the Cricket Club of India.

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