The target is to win all the elite events in this cycle

There is a reason why Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty call Tan Kim Her their 'daddy'.

- Sandip Sikdar

NEW DELHI: It was after all the Malaysian coach who first paired them up, even though it was against their wishes, a decade ago.

It was Tan's brainwave that developed into the greatest doubles pairing the country has seen with Satwik and Chirag achieving several firsts and laurels. Though the 53-year-old left Indian shores in 2019 after a four-year stint, he returned to the setup as India's doubles coach last month after guiding Japan to unprecedented success, reuniting with the pair that attained the world No. 1 ranking not so long ago.

Tan discusses his relationship with Satwik and Chirag, how he can push the world No. 9 combine further and his targets in an interview. Excerpts:

How does it feel to be back in India after five-and-a-half years?

It's always good to be back. India has given me a lot of (good) memories. When I first came here (2015) I just put in everything, all my efforts. The players were also dedicated and trusted me. Not only Satwik-Chirag, the others too. So, I feel like it's my home. The seeds were sown back then. Now I see the fruit growing. It gives me happiness.

You left in 2019 when Satwik-Chirag were upcoming. Now they are a top pair. How do you see the transition?