Anup hopes to put up good show in India Open

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

Talking to newspersons here, India's number two shuttler, said, ''My training in Malaysia, before commencement of World Championship, helped to improve my performance and learn techniques of the game.'' Anup made it to quarterfinals of the just-concluded World Badminton Championship in Kaula Lumpur by defeating World number 16 Malaysian Mohd Hafiz Hashim. He, however lost in the last eight against World number one and defending champion Lin Dan of China.

''I was too tired to fight against World number one Lin Dan in the quarters,'' the lanky shuttler from Karnataka said.

Anup became the third Indian, after former All England Champion Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand, to make it to the last eight of the World Championship.

Prakash had earlier achieved it four times in 1977, 1980, 1983 and 1985, while in 1983 he even entered the semifinal stages, whereas Gopichand had reached the last eight stage in 2001, the same year he became the second Indian to win the All England title after Prakash.

Anup received 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, mother Bharathi and many of his friends waiting to greet him for his recent exploits.

''His hard practice for the last 13 years has ultimately started bearing fruits,'' said his mother Bharathi.

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

UNI