PANAJI
Based in Bengaluru for training, the 18-year-old shuttler started playing the sport at a tender age of six. She was initiated into badminton at Ponda Indoor Stadium where she used to go for training along with her elder sister.
While her sister eventually went in to focus on further studies, young Anura under the guidance of her coach Govind Navelkar continued to put in the hard yards of practice.
“My coach told me that I have the potential to do well. And since I joined at the right age, I continued to excel,” the promising shuttler revealed.
A year from starting training, Anura had her first taste of success at a State tournament in Ponda. At seven, in 2005, she won a prize as an upcoming player at the age of 7.
A first experience of accepting an award, it inspired her to play and win in this fast-paced game.
Playing her first Nationals at eight, she incidentally won her first medal on the National circuit in the same tournament.
After this medal, she was inspired to win many more medals for Goa. With badminton now becoming an integral part of her life, she began playing nationals regularly especially as she entered the age group of U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19. Not just participation, but her heart was set on improving her performance and ranking at Nationals.
Currently playing in the Women’s Senior Category she is ranked seventh in Women’s Singles and second in Women’s Doubles in the country. Among all the medals that she won in the National category (around 41), the notable one was in 2012 when she managed to win the first medal in the field of badminton for Goa. Ever since, there was no looking back.
With her National rankings steadily improving, she got her first opportunity to play an international tournament in 2011 at Pune.
Divulging on her performances at international level, she stated that it was finding a place in the Top-32 of the Yonex Sunrise India Open, the last two editions.
Earlier this year, at the tournament she got a chance to play against World No. 20 in senior category, Sayaka Sato (Japan), and though she lost the match she played a good game going down fighting 17-21, 16-21. In January, at the Syed Modi International Badminton Championship, she got an excellent chance to test herself against PV Sindhu in the Top 32 draw. “Though I lost 9-21, 11-21 I managed to learn a lot from that game,” a positive Anura stated. Anura having spent her early training in Goa under Govind Navelkar in her native Ponda, credits coaches Roy Athaide (Panaji) and Vinayak Kamat (Margao) for always being supportive. In fact, when in Goa she still trains under them.When she eventually moved to Bengaluru in 2013, to further her aspirations at Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, Bengaluru in 2013 she was under the tutelage of Vimal Kumar and Prakash Padukone. After moving to White Peacock Academy, Bangalore, this April she has been under the guidance of Vinod Kumar and Arvind Bhat. While she may not be playing State tournaments anymore with her focus primed on Internationals and Nationals, she recalls her last ranking in a State tournament was first in all the categories in which she had played.
Coming to the present, in the Nationals Senior Category, she is currently ranked seventh (best was fifth) in Women’s Singles and second in Women’s Doubles.
On the international circuit, her best ranking in Girls Singles U-19 was 23 with 94 in Girls Doubles U-19. Currently ranked 281 in Senior Women’s Singles, her aim is to improve the ranking by playing some internationals this year.
Talking of significant achievements till date, she lists winning her first singles medal (Bronze) for Goa in senior category at Valsad Nationals this year, clinching the first singles medal (Bronze) for Goa after 47 years at Patna Nationals in 2012, getting a first Silver and Bronze in Senior Category for Goa in 2015, winning the first ever Bronze medal for Goa at the National Games in 2015 and winning the first Gold in the field of Badminton for Goa in Nationals (2014). On her memorable games, coming to the fore is the one played against the Silver medallist at Olympics, PV Sindhu at the start of this year.
“It was good exposure for me as she is at the top of her game. I got a chance to test my game against the best,” she asserted. The first that she managed to secure for Goa after 47 years at Patna Nationals in 2012 is high up there too. Also managing to win medals in both Singles and Doubles U-15 is remembered fondly. More recently, at the Gujarat Nationals securing Gold in Doubles which is a first ever Gold for Goa, and along with also winning Bronze in Singles which is also a first for a player in Goa in seniors are cherished.
While she is pleased that she could bring Goa in spotlight at Nationals, she now plans on making a mark internationally and winning a major title at that level.
The Brand ambassador for Geno Pharmaceuticals Ltd., has her resolve on setting the court alight this month at the Mauritius international and play a few more international tournaments this year based on her schedule. In August, she will represent Airport Authority of India (AAI) in an Inter Institutional tournament. Thereon, in October in Bengaluru she will appear for the Senior Ranking Tournament.
For now, she plans to play many more internationals in the 2017-18 and improve her senior international BWF singles ranking from the current 281.
Her ultimate dream though is set high in representing India at the Olympics. However she concedes it will be a long journey but is quietly confident on accomplishing that goal.
