Anup confident of impressive show in India Open

Bangalore, Aug 20 (UNI) Top shuttler Anup Sridhar today expressed confidence of putting up good show in the forthcoming India Open tournament scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from September four.

Talking to newsmen, the India's No 2, said, "My training in Malaysia, before commencement of World tournament, helped me a lot to improve my performance and learn techniques of the game." Replying to a question, Anup, who shot into limelight making it to quarterfinals of the just concluded World Badminton Championship in Kaula Lumpur. he had defeated World No 16 Malaysian Muhd Hafiz Hashim enroute to last eight. "I was too tired to fight against defending champion and Chinese World No 1 Lin Dan in the quarters," the lanky shuttler from Karnataka said.

Anup was the third Indian, after former All England Champions Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand, to make it to the last eight stage in the World Championship. Prakash had achieved it four times in 1977, 1980, 1983 and 1985. In 1983 Prakash had even entered Semifinals. Gopichand had reached the last eight stage in 2001, the same year he became the second Indian to win All England title after Prakash.

The ace shuttler was given a Hero's welcome at the airport on his arrival late last night with Prakash Padukone, former national coach Vimal Kumar, his father D R Sridhar and mother Ms Bharathi and many of his friends being present.

"His hard practice for the last 13 years has ultimately started bearing fruits", said beaming Ms Bharathi.

Prakash and Vimal Kumar were all praise for Anup's achievement.

UNI