By IANS,
New Delhi: Parupalli Kashyap will be the top Indian in men’s singles at the Badminton Asia Championships after Chetan Anand’s pullout — and the promising player is hoping to turn it around for himself this year.
All eyes will be on Saina Nehwal when she plays her first round match against Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk. Saina’s match is scheduled last on the opening day, immediately after Jwala Gutta and V. Diju open against Hong Kong’s Wai Hong Wong and Hong Kong’s Hoi Wah Chau.
The men’s players will begin their campaign in the morning session. Kashyap, Anup Sridhar and Arvind Bhat are sure capable of causing more than a few upsets.
After Chetan Anand’s pull out at the last minute due to an injury, Indian hopes would rest on these three to make the most of the home opportunity.
The 23-year-old Kashyap is the highest ranked Indian at the 30th place while Bhat and Sridhar are placed 36th and 42nd respectively.
Kashyap, seeded 13th, has a tough first round match against Hong Kong’s Wing Ki Wong.
“The first few rounds will be tough. I have not played him before. But I am focussing on my strengths and not thinking beyond the first round,” Kashyap told IANS.
Kashyap, who has been fighting with asthma to keep himself among the top, said he is getting better with a change in medication.
“Just few months back the doctors in Mumbai advised me to change the medicines and it is working for me. I am getting better and steadily improving.”
Adjustment to different conditions has been the biggest problem for Kashyap.
“As an international player you travel a lot and you have to quickly adjust to different climatic conditions, the heat and humidity. But it becomes difficult for me. I have seen that I have done well in tournaments in places where I have adjusted quickly. I have went to play the quarters and semis then.”
Incidentally, one of Kashyap’s best international results came in the Asian championships last year where he caused a few upsets to reach the quarter-finals.
“I was in tremendous form in 2008. I was also in a strong position in the Asian Championships quarterfinals. I was in such a good form that I could have made it the finals.”
“Our qualification in the Thomas Cup was a big confidence booster. I think I am just one victory away from a good show. Also, I am aiming to crack top-20 ranking this year,” he said.