India’s TT coach Costantini’s mantra for success: ‘Medals will only come when Indian players are convinced there’s no expectation’

When Diya Chitale and Manush Shah won the WTT Contender at Muscat on January 23, coach Massimo deployed the same rule in the timeouts. “I’ll stay quiet for the first 20-30 seconds, let them process their game. And then I’ll reiterate the same tactical solution — to play their specific skills. With Indians, you need to teach them to get comfortable with their skills without pulling on pressure. Apparently it worked,” he chuckles, ahead of the Chennai WTT Contender that’s underway.

Chennai is the first pitstop in what is always TT’s whirlwind globetrotting preparation — there’s Singapore Smash, World Championships at Chongqing, Contenders at Nigeria, Croatia, Slovenia, USA, before the Asiad. “But yes, I will look for training slabs between tournaments at home and definitely in Japan before the September Games. Because the best moments to learn are in competition.”

While pressure from 9-9 score situations keeps witnessing Indians bottle those moments internationally, Costantini reckons he is going to patch up those puncturing bubbles. “Indians won’t perform if you keep harping on expectations or how high the stakes are high. Before Asiad there will be pressure from their families, the government, coaches, media. But my job is to remind them of their skills because medals tend to come when there’s no hope,” he says.

The Italian is aiming for three women and three men in the Top 50 before the Asian Games, while there’s a good crop of 5-6 in the Top 100 in men. “The girls will bounce back and deliver. And don’t be surprised if Manav (Thakkar) cracks the Top 25 in next 2-3 months,” he says about India’s best ranked at No.33.

Last year this time, Manav was at No.78. “A moment comes in an athlete’s life when his skills, fitness, experience bring you confidence to push forward. After many years of trying a lot of things, Manav has cracked that. Recently against (Chinese No.3) Lin Shidong, Manav very much had him in trouble where the Chinese kept defending. Though he couldn’t finish up, Manav is a threat for every player,” Costantini says. The Indian had a few close matches with the likes of No.5 Truls Moregard. What’s spiked up noticeably is Manav’s speed these last few months that has seen him trouble big names.

While there’s big hopes from Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra, Costantini notes that the likes of Syndrella Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick who won their first seniors doubles title recently have impressed him, with 18-year-old Abhinandan.

But he says India hasn’t heard the last of Ayhika Mukherjee, who medalled last time with Sutirtha. Though she’s taken her time to shrug off injuries, the giant killer remains the most underrated over delivering paddler, despite her 80s ranking.

“She’s performed and rattled the Chinese,” he says. Once she beat the top Chinese 30 minutes after confiding in Costantini that ‘I have no chance against her.’ “Ayhika needs to trust her own abilities more. And she needs specific equipment (pimple rubber) to confuse her opponents,” he says enigmatically. “She’s one player that’s good to win every match against any player,” he stresses. ‘Zero expectations — top self belief’ — remains the Italian’s mantra.

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More

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