Date:17/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/17/stories/2007061703392200.htm

Sport - Badminton

Chetan Anand looking ahead

V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD: National champion B. Chetan Anand feels there is no point in looking back at what has happened and the only option now is to look ahead with a positive frame of mind.

Speaking to The Hindu after the `rebel' trio of Chetan and the National doubles champions Jwala Gutta and Shruthi Kurien decided to join the national camp starting here on June 20, Chetan said it was not the time to indulge in a blame-game.

Main objective

"We have lost two crucial months. And we are not in the mood to ponder over who is at fault.

We have decided to attend the camp and focus on realising the objective of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics," he said, after another hard day at the Fateh Maidan Indoor Stadium on Friday.

"Fortunately, the fall in my world ranking is not as bad as I initially feared.

"For I am now World No. 36 from No. 25," Chetan said.

"But, there are also some positives from this development. I am feeling fitter and not getting easily tired. More importantly, I am now mentally tougher," he said.

Upcoming events

The two-time National champion said he, along with Jwala and Shruthi, had decided to compete in the Thailand Open (July 3 to 8), Chinese Super Series (July 10 to 15) and the Philippines Open (July 18-22).

"That was exactly the message from the BAI when the issue was resolved. And once we come back from these events, we will attend the official camps too," he said.

Chetan reiterated the importance of playing in the big tournaments.

If he were to realise the dream of playing in the Beijing Olympics, he had to compete in as many events as possible.

"Unless you are in the top 32, there is no realistic chance despite some of the qualifying events," he said.