PANAJI:
The match gave glimpses of Anura's skill and quality that could challenge the top draw in the racquet sport with time and experience.
Pullela Gopichand, National Badminton Coach had stated recently that this was arguably the most competitive edition at the National Level, with the availability of the top players in both men's and women's for the aforementioned event.The top-ranked women's shuttler in the country did not contradict on the former National Champion's viewpoint
. "I felt that the competition at the Nationals is tough and players need a lot of hard work and dedication to win tournaments and get good rankings. There are a lot of good players at the national level in India," the Geno Pharmaceuticals assessed.
On preparations for her evening match against the second-seeded Hyderabadi in the semi-finals that she eventually lost, Anura was frank to admit that she had no particular preparation for the Saina game but practiced normally. Being in the match at 10-14 in the first game, until losing her way and subsequently losing the plot from 4-5 in the must-win second game required in staying afloat in the encounter; Anura admitted she felt short on experience and physicality. "I fell short on experience. I need to be more precise in handling the conditions on court. I also need to improve my leg strength and the power of my shoulders so that I can move fast and hit smashes harder," the AAI player confessed.
Speaking to a national channel after the match, Sania Nehwal acknowledged her opponent for giving a good account of herself. "She (Anura) was good with the rallies," stated the second-seeded Hyderabadi.
Declared the No. 1 women's player in the country not too long ago, the standing means a lot to Anura. "No. 1 in the country is a dream which I had since my childhood. However I need to improve my game much further and learn from my experiences," accepted the level-headed Goan shuttler.
For now, Anura will be focusing on international matches and rankings. "I am going to play the Malaysia International Challenge from November 14-19," stated the White Peacock Academy, Bengaluru protégée.
