The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Aparna promises good display

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Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

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Sport - Badminton

Aparna promises good display

NEW DELHI, AUG 4. ``Come what, I'm not going to consume any tablet or capsule during the Olympics unless I run the risk of losing my life,'' asserted Aparna Popat, wise after the incident that saw her being banned for three months after consuming an apparently innocuous tablet four years back.

Aparna was running fever during her Uber Cup matches here and had to take the ubiquitous medicine that contained phenylpropanolamine, the concentration level of which violated International Olympic Committee (IOC) norms, and the International Badminton Federation (IBF) banned the Indian for three months.

Short of match practice, Aparna turned up at Sydney, her first Olympic, and pitted against the then Commonwealth Games champion Kelly Morgan in her very first match, the Indian won the first set and was leading the second.

``I had won the first set 11-5 and was leading in the second 7-2. But I could not finish the game and ended up losing the match 11-5, 7-11, 2-11,'' recalled the 23rd ranked shuttler.

Talking about her preparation this time, she said: "I think you would see a better Aparna at Athens than what she was in Sydney. I had good preparation under coach Ganguly Prasad in Bangalore and I'm in a better shape. I've played more matches and I'm more comfortable with my game now. I've learnt a lot and the experience would come handy at Athens.''

The last event Aparna appeared in was the Japan Open where she went down to her Chinese opponent in the pre-quarterfinals.

Talking about the Chinese, Aparna said: "They just kill you with sheer speed and you simply run out of energy.''

Reluctant to commit anything about her performance at Athens, Aparna said: "Draw plays an important role in your performance and if it favours me, I think I can do well.''

Talking about coaches, the shuttler with four junior and seven consecutive senior National titles under her belt, said: "I feel we have to learn a lot from the Danes, the Malaysians and the Chinese. However, if you impose a Chinese or a Danish style on our players here, it's bound to boomerang.'' — UNI

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