NIRAJ PRABHU
PANAJI
Being a team member under experienced Saina Nehwal at the Uber Cup was an ‘amazing experience’, said India No. 1-ranked shuttler and Goan ace Anura Prabhu Desai.
With a World Rank of 115, Anura was no match for Japan’s Sayaka Takahashi (WR 17) on Wednesday, but the 19-year-old Goan, who won her debut match against Australia earlier in the competition, believes that Uber Cup opportunity will help her improve.
“In world ranking in the selected team, I was fourth but they believed in me and gave a chance to play against Australia and Japan No. 1 seed of the tournament. Seventeenth-seed left-handed player Sayaka Takahashi was very fast and had more experience, specially the power in her smashes,” Anura told The Goan.
“She is a higher-ranked player than me, but it definitely gave me a chance to test myself against the best. It was a great learning experience. I will keep working hard to improve my game and ranking based on this experience,” added the Geno Pharmaceuticals brand ambassador from Ponda.
“I have learnt a lot of things from the Uber Cup outing, especially to increase the speed of the game and deep smashes with more power and leg strength. It was an amazing experience to play for India along with Saina. Saina and the coaches decided regarding whom to send out on the court among the young team, to get the best results,” revealed Anura, who was recently recruited by Northern Railways.
