Anup Sridhar confident of putting good show in Beijing

Bangalore, May 13 (UNI) Top Indian shuttler Anup Sridhar, the lone qualifier from India in men's singles badminton for the Beijing Olympics in August today said that he was confident of putting up a good show in Beijing.

''I have fully recovered from the injuries. I have Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia Open tournaments and also All India Ranking to prove my fitness before travelling to Beijing,'' he said, speaking to reporters.

He said he was confident of putting up a good show in the Beijing Olympics. ''I am able to beat a couple of ranked players in the World Championship and intend to do well in the Olympics as well,'' he added.

The ankle injury he had suffered during Swiss Open last March had cost Anup dearly as he was pushed down to 33 in the world ranking from his career best 24 in January.

Anup's new travelling coach Tom John said, ''I have seen Anup's game, he can upset any top player. In the training main focus was on his physical fitness.'' Former All England Champion and Tata-Padukone Academy Executive Director Prakash Padukone said, for Anup qualifying should not be more important than performing well.

Anup had reached the semi finals at the German Open and the Asian Continental Championships, and the quarter finals at the Thailand Open. In the 2007 World Championships, he was among the last eight.

The current year holds much promises for the former national champion.

His most famous win thus far had been over Taufik Hidayat, former world no one and gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics. His performance at the World Championships was rated among the top-ten Indian sporting performances of 2007.

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