Indian team has nothing to lose

By Prakash Padukone

BANGALORE, MAY 6. The Indian Thomas Cup team is all set to take off for Kuala Lumpur to take part in the Thomas Cup final rounds to be held at Stadium Putra from May 11 to 21. The team left Bangalore after a strenuous and useful camp at the K. Raheja Badminton Stadium.

The coaching camp, which started on April 10, concluded smoothly without any problems. The players looked relaxed and cheerful and are looking forward to the tournament though the chances of the team doing something extraordinary are not very bright. The players and coaches have put in a lot of effort and hard work and it can be hoped that they will play to their full potential.

Unfortunately, four players Abhinn Shyam Gupta, Ajit Wijetilak, Vincent Lobo and Jose George, who were a part of the 10-member Thomas Cup team which played in New Delhi in February, will not be making the trip to Kuala Lumpur due to injuries/illness.

Abhinn Shyam Gupta did not report for the camp as he had sustained an ankle injury during the European circuit in March. He has not played since returning from Europe and has been advised rest. Hopefully, he should be fit by the time the next domestic season starts in June.

Ajit Wijetilak also fell ill during the European tour and has not recovered yet. Vincent Lobo was down with jaundice and so was Jose George. It is definitely a setback for the team, but they have been replaced by Sachin Ratti, George Thomas and Chetan Anand. Sachin Ratti though essentially a singles player is capable of playing good doubles as well, but whether his services will be utilised in the doubles in Kuala Lumpur remains to be seen.

Similarly, Chetan Anand can be a stand-bye in singles. George Thomas is essentially a doubles player and can combine with any of the other three doubles players. Our singles strength will come from Gopi Chand, Nikhil Kanetkar and Siddharth Jain. It will be a good opportunity for these youngsters to rub shoulders with the best in the world. They can play freely without any pressure for they have nothing to lose.

The team will be reaching the venue three days before the event begins. That should give them sufficient time to get acclimatised. However, unlike in the past, weather does not pose a major problem to the players any more as all tournaments are played in air-conditioned halls.

The last time the Indian team was in Kuala Lumpur was in 1998 for the Commonwealth Games where India finished creditably, winning two silver and two bronze medals. Of course, this is an entirely different tournament and the standard of the opposition will also be entirely different.

The matches are being played at Stadium Putra for the first time. This stadium was built during the Commonwealth Games though the badminton event during the Games was played in a different hall, which belongs to Selongor Badminton Association, one of the state units of the Badminton Association of Malaysia.

As already reported, India has qualified for the final rounds after a gap of 12 years. India's opening tie is against Denmark on May 12. Gopi Chand is expected to take on World No. 1 Peter Gade in the opening singles. Our next tie will be against host Malaysia on May 14, followed by the last league encounter against the mighty Koreans on May 16.

The matches are scheduled only in the evenings as the organisers want to make it convenient for the paying public to attend in large numbers. The schedule has been drawn up in such a way that Malaysia will be featured every evening either in the Thomas Cup or Uber Cup.

One can definitely hope for a full house on the last two days, especially if Malaysia makes it to the finals in the Thomas Cup. The last time Malaysia won the prestigious trophy was in 1992 at Kuala Lumpur. Whether history will repeat remains to be seen! Only time will tell.

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Section  : Sport
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