HYDERABAD: The good news is that 29-year-old Arvind Bhat is enjoying the game. After winning his maiden national badminton title in Indore recently, he ran world No.2 Lin Dan close taking him to three games in the Swiss Open Super Series last week. “I had a good chance to beat him,” said Bhat.
Bhat is all geared up for the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Grand Prix Gold tournament that gets underway at SAAP Indoor Stadium at Gachibowli here from March 24-29. He opens his campaign against Du Pengyu. But the biggest test will come when he crosses swords with former world champion and second seed Taufik Hidayat in the pre-quarterfinals. Bhat is optimistic.”I think I can get past him if I play well,” said Bhat, who trains at Tata Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore.
Coach U Vimal Kumar expects Bhat to do well in the tournament. “He has an all-round game. He nearly upset Lin at the Swiss Open. He was leading 11-7 in the second game before he lost the momentum. It’s important to keep the pace,” said Vimal Kumar.
Bhat has worked hard on his game and fitness.
“These days I’m enjoying the game better. In the past, I had lots of pressure because of injuries, lack of fitness and had trouble analysing players,” said Bhat, who expects a good support from the home crowd.
In fact, winning the national title after five attempts has relieved him off the burden. Former All England champion Prakash Padukone praised Bhat’s hard work and determination in winning the national crown. Padukone feels that having broken the jinx, Bhat should break into top 10 in the world. Prakash felt Bhat has to work on his defence and improve at the net.
Bhat is confident of breaking into the top 15 in world ranking.
Bhat, who has been working on his mental strength, thinks Indian players are going up in the world rankings. “We have five men in the top 50 and two women in top 50 which speaks volumes of our strength. We have consistently beaten top 15 players and run top players close,” added Bhat, seeded ninth in the tournament.
Bhat felt the presence of top players like Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat at the India Open “will make public understand better how close we are to the top guns”.