Indian shuttler Anup Sridhar says he would finetune his game for Beijing Olympics during the three international tournaments that he will play in the run-up to the quadrennial extravaganza.
NEW DELHI: Back in action after recovering from a foot injury, ace Indian shuttler Anup Sridhar says he would finetune his game for Beijing Olympics during the three international tournaments that he will play in the run-up to the quadrennial extravaganza.
Sridhar said the upcoming events -- Singapore Open, Indonesia Open and Thailand Open -- will help him get into the right frame of mind and assess his preparation.
"They are definitely good preparation for the Olympics. It is an opportunity to get into the frame of mind required for matchplay," Sridhar said.
"I think it is also good timing as there are five to six weeks between Bangkok and Beijing, which gives me ample time to translate my learnings into action and make the final tweaks to my game in a tournament setting," he added.
First up for the 25-year-old Bangalorean is the Singapore Open from June 10-15 and Sridhar says the tournament will be a perfect ground to weigh his opponents.
"It will give me a good sense of the conditions to expect in Beijing. It will also be good to play against some of my potential opponents and to get a sense of how they are going on their own preparations," he says.
The former national champion said he was not setting himself any big goals for the Olympics and would focus on one game at a time.
"I am well prepared and confident. I would like to keep it simple. My basic approach will be to take one point at a time, one game at a time and evaluate my opponent and play the best badminton that I can in the context," he said.
On his qualification for the Olympics, Sridhar said although he was always confident of making the cut but it took some time for the feeling to sink in once he got the news.
"The Olympic qualification wasn't a sudden thing and at some point I was pretty sure it was going to happen. That said, it is definitely a huge thrill to be able to represent one's country and the realisation that I am going to have that opportunity, took some time to sink in," he says.
Sridhar, who missed out of some important events due to an ankle injury, said he is now back to full fitness.
"I am quietly confident. I am training hard, I am in good physical and mental shape and have a good record against the players I will come up against at the Games. I don't feel like my preparations are lacking in any way."
"My plantar fasciitis condition has healed well and I have been on full load training for many weeks now. A significant part of my training regime focuses on my fitness, strength and stamina and that has got me into great shape. I have also been doing a fair amount of court work and I am feeling good about my game," he says.
With a billion hopes riding on him, doesn't he feel the pressure?
"I don't feel the pressure as such. Big stages and big matches seem to bring out the best in me, so I am confident of doing well. Nervousness or pressure isn't bad things if channelised well," he says.
"I am generally self-motivated and don't really get affected by others' goals, aims or expectations. I have very specific professional goals and strive hard to achieve them.
"There is no greater satisfaction than giving oneself a pat on the back during the magical moment when only you know you have achieved a very personal goal," he says.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}