seven
09-17-2004, 02:06 AM
Gopi Chand returns to the singles fold
Saji Chacko
Bangalore, September 16http://www.hindustantimes.com/on/img/0.gifhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/on/img/news/grey_1px.gif
His shots might have lost the sting, may be a trifle slower now, but his resolve to win remains undiminished. Former All-England champion, Pullela Gopi Chand is making a comeback in singles after a gap of two years. He has been given a wild card to participate in the Canara Bank All-India senior ranking badminton championships which gets underway at the Indira Nagar Club from Friday. Not the one to shy away from a challenge, the genial Hyderabadi promises his best.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Gopi Chand said he planned his comeback slowly but surely. "After a series of injuries to my knees, I had to be careful about planning my comeback. Initially, I confined myself to the doubles (partnering Chetan Anand in a couple of tournaments including the Hyderabad Nationals earlier this year). Only when I felt I had the required fitness to play singles did I venture into it," he says.
Gopi Chand did play a competitive singles match in the Inter-Petroleum championships in Delhi last week. And he was good enough to beat National champion Chetan Anand. “That win over Chetan meant a lot to me.
Saji Chacko
Bangalore, September 16http://www.hindustantimes.com/on/img/0.gifhttp://www.hindustantimes.com/on/img/news/grey_1px.gif
His shots might have lost the sting, may be a trifle slower now, but his resolve to win remains undiminished. Former All-England champion, Pullela Gopi Chand is making a comeback in singles after a gap of two years. He has been given a wild card to participate in the Canara Bank All-India senior ranking badminton championships which gets underway at the Indira Nagar Club from Friday. Not the one to shy away from a challenge, the genial Hyderabadi promises his best.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Gopi Chand said he planned his comeback slowly but surely. "After a series of injuries to my knees, I had to be careful about planning my comeback. Initially, I confined myself to the doubles (partnering Chetan Anand in a couple of tournaments including the Hyderabad Nationals earlier this year). Only when I felt I had the required fitness to play singles did I venture into it," he says.
Gopi Chand did play a competitive singles match in the Inter-Petroleum championships in Delhi last week. And he was good enough to beat National champion Chetan Anand. “That win over Chetan meant a lot to me.