Badminton Asia Championship gets under way but venue far from ready.
There are two ways of looking at the Badminton Asia Championship, the main rounds of which commence here on Wednesday. It can either be considered an opportunity for Indian players, even if in a depleted field, or as a ‘test event’ as the organisers see it.
Not going into that debate, it should add to the enthusiasm that this is the first time the Indians are top-seeded in two events, with Saina Nehwal’s progress being the focus of attention.
World No.6 Saina has been top seeded here in the absence of the top five Chinese players and but for second seed Mi Zhou of Hong Kong and Yip Pui Yin
of Chinese Taipei, the field does not look capable of upsetting her.
All the Hyderabad girl, who helped India qualify for the Uber Cup and also made it to the semifinals of the All-England championship this year, needs to do is play to her potential over the next five days.
“I am confident going into the tournament and have no pressure whatsoever because of being the top seed. But I know I have to be at my best if I have to continue having a good year,” Saina said ahead of the meet.
She plays Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, with whom she has been involved in some close matches in the past, in the first round on Wednesday evening.
“Saina’s progress will be watched closely and it is a chance for the game to grow in the country. But one will have to wait and see how many people come in to watch,” said former Asian champion Dinesh Khanna.
India have also got top billing in the mixed doubles for Jwala Gutta and and V Diju. The pair, currently ranked ninth in the world, have a kind draw till the quarterfinals and once again are capable of winning gold if they play to capability.
The last-minute withdrawal of Chetan Anand has diminished interest for India in the men’s singles as Anup Sridhar, R Kashyap and Aravind Bhat will have to produce something extraordinary to attract attention.
Though there are several names missing in the men’s section too, the likes of world and Olympic champion Lin Dan and former Olympic champion
Taufik Hidayat lend glamour to the event.
As for this being a test event for the Commonwealth Games, it seems anything but that. Things were only just falling in place ahead of the five-day tournament, the venue itself resembling an under-construction site.
Several panes of the glass facades were still to be put in place and building material had yet to be cleaned up.
The qualifying rounds also saw the electronic scoreboards out of order. If there is a dearth of spectators during the tournament, one wonders how it will provide a reality check ahead the Commonwealth Games.
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