Indian badminton: Limpele resigns as doubles coach

Recently recruited singles coach Agus Dwi Santoso will arrive in India on March 10 and will take charge of the team in Hyderabad.

The Indian doubles team is currently training in Hyderabad.

Flandy Limpele has resigned as the doubles coach for the Indian badminton team. He flew back home on Saturday owing to family reasons.

The doubles team is currently training in Hyderabad under foreign coaches Namrih Suroto and Dwi Kristiawan alongside Indian counterparts Vijay Deep, Pradnya Gadre and Arun Vishnu and the chief national coach Pullela Gopichand.

Recently recruited singles coach Agus Dwi Santoso will arrive in India on March 10 and will resume duty from the next day in Hyderabad.

“I had spoken to Gopichand last Monday that I want to resign but I decided to stay back due to the All England and European tournaments but it turns out the players cancelled their trip for All England,” Limpele told PTI.

“I feel the doubles department is not as favourite as singles. It is unfortunate that it has less love than singles but having said that it is just one of the reasons. The main reason for my departure is personal.

“I wish all the best to the Indian team, they have good coaches. ”

Big setback

Last December, Limpele had criticised the Indian players, saying their poor attitude and lack of teamwork is affecting the growth of the doubles game in the country.

Chirag and Satwik, who won the Thailand Open Super 500 and reached the finals of French Open Super 750 to eventually reach the world no 10 under Limpele, described it as a big setback ahead of the Tokyo Games.

“We came to know yesterday. He messaged us informing that he is leaving. It is a big setback for us," Chirag said.

Limpele is India’s fourth foreign coach to have resigned without completing the tenure.