If you believe in astrology, you would know there are phases in life when things just ‘open up’ for you. Anup Sridhar is enjoying one such phase in life.
MUMBAI: If you believe in astrology, you would know there are phases in life when things just ‘open up’ for you. Anup Sridhar is enjoying one such phase in life.
Irrespective of what happens to him against current world No.1 Lin Dan — whom he meets in the quarterfinals of the World Badminton Championships in Kuala Lumpur — Sridhar’s journey so far till Thursday is a dream one.
When Sridhar asked permission to train on his own in Malaysia, he was fighting his luck since he had been denied permission on the previous instance, at that time to Indonesia, just months back. Besides, the other Indians at the championship were also asked to report to the training camp against their will. “I just took a chance. There was no harm trying,” Sridhar told this correspondent on Monday, after the first round.
And now there is no harm trying his might against the most formidable player of all in recent times, Lin Dan of China. But then he was also not believed to have much of a chance against former world champ Taufik Hidayat and the second most local favourite Muhammed Hafiz Hashim, world No. 16, on Thursday.
At the Putra Stadium, court No 4 enjoys a location for the most spectators from all three sides. And the locals put in their vocal chords to full use in search for the elusive world title. On the other hand, Sridhar has managed to learn a few off-field tricks that also play a vital part in setting the mindset during a tournament. For the first three days, he has been staying back and watching even the women’s singles matches, making mental notes wherever possible.
Against Hidayat, Sridhar complained of the wind factor. But on Thursday, he focussed hard on his opponent’s game in the clash of similar and defensive styles. And Sridhar came up trumps, using his smashes to win rallies as soon as possible and cutting out the scope of being stretched.
The result was evident as Hashim managed to find more winners on the flanks but Sridhar managed to forge ahead by attacking the net. After the three-game tie against Hidayat, he could have won in two games but slipped up despite leading 18-16 at one stage in the second game. Hashim ran away with the next five points to force the decider.
In the rubber, Sridhar broke free to lead 9-5 but let his rival snap at his heels till 15-14. It was then Sridhar’s turn to log five consecutive points, his fifth time in the match indicating his superiority in getting big points.
In the women’s singles, Saina Nehwal bowed out after losing to world No. 4 Pi Hongyan of France in the third round.
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