Time we believed Chinese can be beaten: Padukone

BANGALORE: The Chinese are beatable. This is the enduring message of Saina Nehwal and Srikanth Kidambi's triumph at the China Open in Fuzhou, according to badminton legend Prakash Padukone.
Srikanth's defeat of Chinese star Lin Dan in the final on Sun day and Saina's victory over three Chinese players en route to the wom en's singles title have only reiterated the truth that Indians have been illserved by their undue respect for the Chinese on court.
"We tend to lose the battle in our minds on these occasions. It's time we believed that the Chinese can be conquered. The coaches and their pep talk can help the players only to an extent. Finally, it is the players who will have to win matches and the transformation has to come in them.Today, Saina and Srikanth have shown the way. I am sure this will boost the confidence of other players and change their perception about the Chinese," Prakash told TOI.
The victories are doubly special as they have come on Chinese soil."Beating the Chinese at home is doubly tougher. I have experienced it during my playing days. The crowd is partisan and vociferous. So the player is left with the two huge tasks of taking the crowd in his stride and beating the home favorite," he said.