‘SAG like events help nurture second string of players’

SHILLONG: For the Indian pair of PV Sindhu and Ashwini Ponnappa, the 12th South Asian Games matches are all about going through the drills without any fuss.
The duo’s easy win over Nepal in the morning session of the team event only underlined the fact that badminton powerhouse India has little or no competition in the team event, both women’s and men’s, at least till now. But this does not take anything away from the multinational contest as far as Sindhu and Ponnappa are concerned.
Despite admitting that the level of badminton seen at the 12th SAG is not of the highest order, Ponnappa said that events like these help nurture a second line of players for the national scheme of things.
She added that sides like Sri Lanka are doing well and any amount of exposure in an event of this magnitude is always good for the shuttlers.
Sindhu and Ponnappa were also happy with the fact that the SAG had provided them and other members of the Indian side an opportunity to travel to the “beautiful North East” and be the brand ambassadors of the game.
The duo was also excited about the visit to this part of the country.
“North East is beautiful and the people here are really sweet, it’s great to be here,” said Sindhu, who had a great day out at office on Day 2 of the badminton event in Shillong.
Sindhu was also pleasantly surprised by the kind of support the event was receiving in Shillong.  “It’s good to see a sizeable number of fans coming out to support the team in Shillong,” she said with a smile.