Yuki confident of giving India gold at CYG

Pune, Oct 11 (UNI) Touted as a sure shot gold medal prospect by IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, Yuki Bhambri will be back to his giant killing ways and said he was confident of giving India a medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games which kicks off here tomorrow.

Talking to UNI here from Japan where he is playing in the Osaka Mayor's Cup, Yuki said he was putting in his best efforts to prepare for the event and assured that the probability of him fetching a gold medal was very high.

''Yes, I am very confident of bagging a gold medal and I am particularly working on my stamina so that I can adjust to the climate in India,'' Yuki said.

In the Osaka Mayor's Cup, Yuki beat Hiroyasu Eharu of Japan in straight sets 7-6(6), 6-1 to advance to the semi-finals yesterday and was quite sure to return home with the title.

Yesterday, Kalmadi had expressed his belief that India has atleast four strong contenders - Virdhawal Khade in swimming, Saina Nehwal in badminton, Neha Aggarwal in table tennis and Yuki Bhambri - who would surely win a gold medal at the Games.

The 16-year-old Delhi lad said he is in good form and despite being away from home for the last two months, he would not have problems acclamatising to the hot weather here.

''I have been out from India for last two months and I don't know how much I'll get to practise there but considering the form that I am in, I don't think I will face any problems playing in India,'' he stated.

Yuki was training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (NBTA) in Bradenton, Florida where tennis stars like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and the William sisters have trained in the past.

''The training at Florida has helped me a lot and has made me become a better player. I was taught to work on my hitting and approach which has definitely improved my game.'' ''At the academy, I was trained to become more aggressive which is very evident in my game now. I, however, still have a long way to go,'' he added.

Ranked 18th in the ITF Junior rankings, Yuki, who will arrive just hours before his first match on Monday, said the competitions that he has faced in the last few months have toughened him up and has enabled him to prepare well for the Commonwealth Youth Games.

''It's been a fantastic experience to play with some top junior players and I can myself notice the improvement in my game especially after the Junior Davis Cup last month and then here at the Osaka Mayor's Cup,'' he added.

However, the teen sensation admitted that he was totally unaware of the facilities here at the Commonwealth Youth Games but with the kind of form he is in, he said, ''it hardly matters where youplay.'' UNI RAR AB AKJ KP1710