Spat with BAI history; wants to break into top 20: Chetan

New Delhi, Aug 10: After taking on the might of Badminton Association of India (BAI) for a cause he thought just, top Indian shuttler Chetan Anand now wants to concentrate on ''rediscovering'' his form and breaks into the top 20 in world rankings.

Chetan, who was yesterday named for Arjuna Award for 2006, said he was relieved that the tussle with BAI ''has been amicably resolved'' and he is looking ahead to fine tune his game.

''I am relieved that the BAI issue was amicably resolved. I am looking forward to my game and want to break into top 20,'' Chetan told UNI on the sidelines of Pretroleum Sports Promotion Board's awards function here last night.

The 27-year-old Andhra shuttler had a fabulous last year which saw him steadily climb the world rankings, almost knocking on the doors of top 20. He was ranked career-best 21st in mid 2006.

But, ranked 33rd now and languishing around 35 for the last few months, Chetan had to play qualifiers in top end tournaments like the Super Series which he now wants to do away with by cracking into top 20.

''If you are in top 20, it is certain that you will not meet a seeded player in the first and second rounds of any top end event, nor you need to play qualifiers,'' Chetan, who had so far not won a Grand Prix event and above it in his career, said.

In May, Chetan, his wife Jwala Gutta and her doubles partner Shruti Kurien wanted to play Super Series tournaments in Singapore and Indonesia and gain ranking points with an eye on next year's Beijing Olympics. But, the BAI did not grant permission, insisting instead to attend national camps, one of which was then on in Hyderabad.

BAI also dropped the three of then from the Indian team for the Sudirman Cup World Mixed Team Championship in Scotland from June 10-17 after they skipped the National camp in protest.

A compromise formula was later worked out which emphasised on the need to attend national camps even while allowing Chetan to play in a couple of international tournaments.

The Border Security Force's (BSF) Punjab Frontier Headquarters is organising the 32nd Inter-Frontier Sports Meet here from August 13 to 17.

Punjab Frontier Headquarter IG Arvind Ranjan, while talking to media persons here today said that the competitions would be held in Basketball, Handball, Volleyball and Kabaddi, in which nearly 625 sportspersons from 10 Frontier Headquarters would be participating.

He said that Both A and B teams would be participating in the tournament and outstanding sportspersons from B teams would be selected for A teams keeping in mind, coming international sports events like Commonwealth Games, all India Police Games and other events.

Many international players like Vipin Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Mohar Singh (Basketball), Surjit Singh and Roy Joseph (Volleyball) and Mukesh Singh and Jain Prasad (Handball) are participating in the tournament, he said.

He informed that 15 BSF sportspersons have been awarded with Arjuna Awards and four with Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. The BSF, so far had produced nearly 200 international players, he added.

Praveen Kumar, who immortalize the character of Bhima in Mahabharta TV serial, had worked with the world's largest border guarding force, he said.

UNI