Ivan Sozonov comes from Russia with gloves – the velvet kinds, with the iron fist. In badminton, it means hitting hard from the back court, and playing soft nudges at the net.
India’s Russian doubles specialist coach, based in Guwahati for the last two years – he has signed an extension for another two – has helped land a maiden mixed team bronze at the World Juniors. And on Thursday, he helped script two upset wins – for Bhavya Chhabra-Vishakha Toppo in mixed doubles and Bhargav Ram-Viswa Tej Gobburu in men’s doubles – to ensure India has two pairs among the last eight.
Reshika U was running a high temperature and couldn’t convert a first-set lead into a win with Vennala Kalagotla in women’s doubles, but Indian pairs displayed fine temperament and tactical improvements, thanks to Sozonov.
The former All England champion, a soft-spoken but well-read man, has been responsible for filling a glaring gap seen in India’s doubles development. Indians are blessed with all the skill in the world even in juniors, but their shot selection and tactical sense often leaves a lot to be desired. The cunning required is non-existent, the craftiness needs teaching.
Sozonov is known to use examples out of books, movies and myriad sports – basketball, football, ice hockey and even imparts etiquette tips and pointers on the art of conversation, in teaching athlete psychology on court.
One such advice he dispensed was on how to respect seniors and higher-ranked opponents off the court, but extending no such courtesy on it. The players love him and how he goes about drilling finer points of doubles into Indian juniors, who idolise Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty but might not know how to win like them.
Even on Thursday, Sozonov was courtside telling Bhargav-Viswa to vary the pace and avoid fast flat shots as they defeated Chen-Chu of Taiwan 13-15, 15-9, 15-13.
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The mixed doubles though is where Bhavya-Vishakha could help India break the medal voodoo at Junior Worlds. No Indian has medalled in the paired event, with Sai Praneeth-Pranav Jerry (2010) and Chirag Shetty-MR Arjun (2014) reaching the quarters.
Sozonov reckons Indians have prepared well this time.
“We spent a lot of time preparing for team events, finding the best combinations for this scoring system. We needed attacking players, so we split some pairs and made new mixed doubles teams,” he says.
The likes of Bhargav-Viswa still have some technical and tactical issues, but have shown great heart to reach this far. “They need more experience for seniors, should play senior challenge, find the best game and have confidence,” Sozonov says.
One part of Sozonov’s job was convincing them that they didn’t need to exactly be best friends or share deep bonds for long years to combine well on court.
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“I gave Vennala the example of good singles players shifting to play top mixed and winning. Sometimes, it’s not necessary to practise together the whole time to perform together in one match,” the Russian, looking to expand their minds, stressed. “An aggressive mentality is more important.”
Best of both worlds
Sozonov brings the European ethos to India’s Asian skills and style. He’s also fixed a bunch of off-court issues – meals, how to carry themselves when going out, and how to watch sport, glean nuances. Football-watching sessions with Sozonov have been educational, as have been his tips on basic socialising.
But more pertinently, he teaches decision-making – when to tap at the net, when to play the hold-keep, how to float between aggressive hitting and playing safe that made him and Vladimir Ivanov All England champs.
He chose India to transition from athlete to coach, and reckons he understands Indian psychology rather well now. “When I shifted from professional to coach, I wanted to make a difference to the potential future of badminton, and having played at a high level, wanted to share my experience with young trainees. I believe I can help them transition from junior to senior,” he says.
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Europeans who don’t start out so skilled and rely entirely on tactical acumen to win, so he reckons he is a good fit for India. “Indians have very fast games, strong strokes, and on a good day, it is tough to beat you.” For the bad days, India has the Russian who can repair follies and frowns with his intelligence.
But tactical discipline needs to develop. “I let them play their best game, but we focus in practice sessions on the weak tactical part,” he says. “I also break partners,” he half-jokes, for that is precisely the sort of emotional wrenching that needs the Russian velvet glove.
He’s come to admire India since the time he visited it as a player.
“I’ve been to India many times before… I know this country.. I know where I go… and I prepare myself for those places. But in the last few years, it’s changed 180 degrees…India’s a different country now, and one of the fastest growing ones in badminton,” the Russian says.
