In search of success

Anup Sridhar announced his arrival on the big stage in 2007, reaching the quarterfinals at the World Championship and then making the semifinal stage of the Asian Championship.

But 2008 has been complete contrast for the Bangalore lad. He has had a string of poor results and a heel injury kept him out of action for a month. The 25-year-old is fit now, and has set his sights on Beijing, hoping to make up lost ground.

“I am fitter than I have ever been and have been training hard in preparation for the Games. I am on top of my game; my skills are sharp and am very fit. So I’m hoping that combination works well for me,” said Sridhar from Bangalore.

At the moment he is not predicting how far he can reach in Olympics. But he sounds confident. “If I go in thinking ‘I need to win a medal’, the journey looks long and the obstacles seem many.  So that’s where my ‘one point at a time’ mantra fits in. 
Personally, I know that I have the capability to beat the best in the world so it is just about converting my potential into performance and doing everything I do with confidence. I feel I will have a good chance no matter who I play and that is a good feeling to have going in to the Olympics.”

“It really doesn’t matter who I face, each game will be tough and will have to be won with sweat and guts (if not blood)!” he quips.