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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 31: Commonwealth table tennis doubles gold medallists Chetan Baboor and S Raman have set themselves a realistic goal “of winning at least two rounds” at the Sydney Olympic Games starting on September 15.
“I am hoping to win a few rounds in the singles and also in the doubles events of Olympics though the competition there is very tough,” said Baboor, India’s lone entry in the singles tournament at Sydney.
Baboor, who qualified for the all-important Olympics through a gruelling tournament in Hong Kong earlier this year, is heading for Singapore for the final tune-up camp with that country’s National team.
Former National champion Baboor, who was upstaged by Raman in the Lucknow Nationals this year, is confident unlike in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games when he missed a sparring partner throughout.
“He (Raman) will be there now and I am confident we’ll make it to third round in the doubles event,” Baboor said after a felicitation function organised by his employers, Indian Oil Corporation here.
Ranked 25th in the world, the duo is seeded 23rd in the Olympic Games table tennis doubles in a field of 32 pairs.
“In normal course we should win two rounds and if we put in more effort, there is an outside chance of winning third round,” Raman said.
The pair, who won the Commonwealth gold in Singapore, compliment each other well and their style of play helps cover up each other’s weaknesses at times.
Baboor, currently ranked 82nd in the world, said he was looking forward to the tune-up camp in Singapore where he is to play against some of the players of Chinese origin.
“They have some players with good game though they do not figure in the top 20 of the world,” said the Commonwealth singles bronze medallist.
While singles remained a weak link for India, Baboor will be up against one of the top 16 players in the first round.
“That will be too difficult, but I’ll give my best,” said Baboor who defeated world number 16 Johny Huan, a Chinese-born Canadian, to qualify for the Olympics.
“I need to have more practice to be able to have any chance in winning a round in the singles,” he said. The paddlers will be in Singapore for 10 days before heading for Sydney from there itself.
Raman, who still harbours a chance of making it to the singles draw if any player failed to appear at the Games’ village, said he has had a fairly good season this year.
“After the Commonwealth success in March, we’ve had a long international season. We were a bit exhausted playing in the United States and Brazil Opens and the Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar,” Raman said.
The Baboor-Raman pair qualified in the doubles as eighth best Asian team grabbing one of the nine possible spots.
The 31-year-old paddler said after a busy season together, he has really jelled well with Baboor’s game and now both understand each other’s weaknesses and strong points.
He put China and Sweden as clear favourites for the team and individual titles.
