The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Mixed feelings for Nikhil Kanetkar

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Saturday, Nov 25, 2006
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Sport - Badminton

Mixed feelings for Nikhil Kanetkar

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Nikhil Kanetkar, the runner-up in the Mumbai Satellite championship last week, has mixed feelings about being included in the Indian badminton squad for the Doha Asian Games next week.

He has been told that he would be a part of the team campaign only and will not figure in the open singles competitions. That job has been entrusted to Chetan Anand and Anup Sridhar (India No.4) as each country is permitted only two singles entries and two doubles entries.

Nikhil does not believe that all is well in the national camp under the guidance of 2001 All-England champion and chief national coach Pullela Gopi Chand.

"Setbacks have been happening to me for quite some time. But no doubt, it is great feeling to represent India in the Asian Games," said a pensive Nikhil in a chat with The Hindu at the Gachibowli Stadium here on Friday.

The team for Asian Games: Men: Chetan Anand, Anup Sridhar, Nikhil Kanetkar, P. Kashyap, Sanave Thomas, Rupesh Kumar, V. Diju. Women: Saina Nehawal. Coaches: Pullela Gopi Chand, Sanjeev Sachdev.