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Making the world take notice

Chetan Anand is on the lookout for corporate sponsorship to help boost his career

SMASHING SUCCESS Chetan Anand does not intend to rest on his laurels PHOTO: MOHD. YOUSUF

Not very often does one see an Indian sportsperson combine elegance and class and still be a force to reckon with. But, that is what Chetan Anand is so famous for. This Vijayawada born, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist is in the mood to `shuttle' to glory at the highest level.

For someone who is ranked World No. 24 (currently the highest ranked Indian), he presents a refreshingly pleasing attitude both on court and in real life too.

This 26-year-old elegant shuttler is determined to step into the elite group of world badminton. He is the second Indian to be invited for a special training programme in Denmark - the other being India's all-time great Prakash Padukone. The year 2004 can be considered to be the decisive phase of his fledgling career. Chetan made a huge impact by winning his maiden national title in front of his family members.

Then, the march to the stardom virtually began in the international circuit. He picked up two golds in the 2004 SAF Games, won the Toulouse Open singles and followed it up with wins in the Welsh and the Irish International events. A remarkable run which finally heralded the arrival of Chetan in the big league. Clearly, he transgressed the domains of excellence, which were hitherto confined to the domestic circuit. The singles title in the Sri Lankan Open last August only confirmed his growing stature.

He is now entering the most decisive phase of his career.

Dronacharya S.M. Arif, feels that in terms of technique and game, Chetan doesn't need to make too many adjustments. All he has to focus now is on greater consistency. "There is no point being brilliant in one game and brittle in the next. The bridge between these should be narrowed as much as possible to earn him a special place in the higher echelons of sports," feels Arif . To achieve this, Chetan needs to compete and if possible even train abroad as much as possible.

Exactly for this reason, Chetan badly needs corporate support to give his career that vital momentum and thrust. The fact that he is aiming to be among the top 10 and wants to benefit immensely from his training stint with the legendary Morten Frost, who incidentally had a great influence on Prakash Padukone in the early 80s, is a reminder that Chetan is in the mood to stay away from the crowd.

With 50 titles in the major ranking and Grand Prix events, nothing is impossible for this dynamic player. An engineer by profession and a sports officer in the ONGC by occupation, this shuttler par excellence certainly deserves a closer look by the corporate world. After all, it is the sponsors who help the champions scale the summit.

V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

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