With little to cheer about their performance in the Thomas Cup, where India failed to make the quarters, captain Parupalli Kashyap said that his team always had its back against the wall as there was too much pressure on the singles players to pull off three out of three matches.
The Indian men's team lost 1-4 to Malaysia on day one, went down 2-3 against Korea, before finally winning against Germany 3-2 in their last group tie today to salvage pride.
"It was always going to be tough because we were always expecting 100 per cent from three singles. We were always 0-2 down in the doubles. So, there was a lot of pressure on all three singles players. Srikanth, playing the first singles, was under a lot of pressure. We saw it against Korea. Today also, it was very tough for him, although he managed to pull off his match," Kashyap said.
"We both (Srikanth and myself) were under a lot of pressure to win our respective singles matches," said Kashyap after India's otherwise disappointing campaign ended on a winning note.
Kidambi Srikanth had lost his first two matches against Malaysia and Korea, before pulling it off against Germany. Kashyap lost his matches against Malaysia and Germany, but won his tie against Korea.
But India's third singles player, R M V Gurusaidutt surprised one and all by winning all three of his ties in the group stage.
Applauding Gurusaidutt, national coach Pullela Gopichand said he has improved a lot as a player.
"There are always some glitches but he has done very well and we have got a good option in third singles in form of Gurusaidutt," he said.
Kashyap said that his team, especially the singles players, have a lot of positives to take home.
"Overall three singles players tried really hard. That's where our strength was. We had to get 100 per cent result and there was no option of the doubles. So, it was always going to be tough.
"I would say the team is improving. The players, especially singles, will get better. I am confident that I will also get better," said Kashyap.
