Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics, Kidambi Srikanth Hires Indonesian Coach Wiempie Mahardi

Wiempie Mahardi has more than 10 years of coaching experience, and Kidambi Srikanth has now finally hired him.

Renowned Indian badminton player Kidambi Srikanth, who has next year’s Paris Olympics in mind, reportedly hired Indonesian coach Wiempie Mahardi to train him to perfection. The latest development has come around the time of the qualification period for the 2024 Olympics, which started off from May 1, 2023.

As per Srikanth, he has been struggling with form, and Mahardi will help him regain the lost form and prepare for the 2024 Olympics.

Statement by Kidambi Srikanth

“I have been trying to get a coach since December 2021, when Agus left. Now I have an Indonesian coach, Wiempie Nahardi,” Srikanth said.

The former world number one Srikanth further told news agency PTI, “I met him when I went to Indonesia to train for three weeks. He came to India in the last week of April.”

Nonetheless, India is yet to appoint a foreign coach for men’s singles players post the departure of Indonesia’s Agus Dwi Santoso in December 2021.

Meanwhile, after PV Sindhu and Park Tae Sang parted ways in February, the Korean has been coaching the men’s singles players.

“I was trying to get a coach through TOPS but somehow, it didn’t work out. In January, I sent SAI the proposal and since then it has been on hold. Since the Olympic qualification period was also starting in May, I couldn’t hold any longer, so I decided to do it myself,” Srikanth further said.

All about Srikanth and Mahardi

For those caught unaware, Mahardi is a former world top 25 player, and has more than 10 years of coaching experience. He has also trained players in different clubs across countries. Srikanth is yet to train with him as he was busy with the selection trials for the Asian Games, wherein he wrapped up at the top with six wins in as many matches to qualify for the individual events.

Coming to Srikanth, he has seen a tough 2023, with only one quarter final finish in seven tournaments. Also, his ranking slipped from world number 13 to 22. In 2021, he had won a world championship silver before taking India to a historic Thomas Cup win last year.

Next up for him is the Sudirman Cup, a mixed team championships, which is starting in China from May 14. India along with Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Australia is part of Group C.