October revolution

After a seven-year period of many glitches and marred with controversies and injuries, India finally found a Grand Prix winner...

After a seven-year period of many glitches and marred with controversies and injuries, India finally found a Grand Prix winner in men8217;s singles badminton on Sunday. Chetan Anand won the Bitburger Open title in Saarbrucken, Germany to continue the sport8217;s recent happy run in the country. That Aravind Bhat finished a 23-25, 24-22, 23-21 runner-up after the hour-long see-saw battle between the two Indians doubles the impact of this event in far-off Germany, seven years after P Gopichand picked a title of much bigger significance at the All-England in the men8217;s section.

Just before that, Jwala Gutta-V Diju picked India8217;s first mixed doubles Grand Prix title, beating Danish Joachim Fischer Neilsen and Christina Pederson 8-21, 21-17, 22-20, making it a special day for the husband-wife combine of Chetan and Jwala.

In a closely fought match, where only the finishing-points and the result separated the two, Anand, ranked 30 in the world, prevailed after comebacks in the second as well as the third game.

Pipped 25-23 in the first game, where he couldn8217;t close out a 20-18 lead, Chetan pulled himself out of trouble taking the second 24-22, but it was at 14-19 down in the decider that the Hyderabad shuttler let loose his most potent weapon.

Preying on impatience

Preying on the 42-ranked Bhat8217;s impatience, Chetan unleashed a string of cross-court overhead smashes to bridge the gap and surged ahead, closing out the match with another that was gunned straight at Bhat8217;s abdomen. Trailing 14-19 he had nothing to lose, and went for the one offensive weapon that has rarely failed the 28-year-old.

8220;It8217;s my first four-star title, which makes me very happy. Having my coach SM Arif, who knows my game inside out, around was helpful, as he gave me timely tips,8221; Anand told The Indian Express from Saarbrucken.

8220;I had been written off and my commitment had been questioned. But quite a turnaround, right?8221; Anand, who has been engaged in bitter stand-offs with the country8217;s badminton establishment, quipped.

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8220;I8217;d hoped to make the Top 25 by the year-end, but I8217;ll have to revise my targets and aim higher after this,8221; he added.

Adding to confidence

A good run, which started in April at the Indian Open where Chetan made the final, also saw him do well at the Czech and Belgian events, rediscovering the simple joy of the game and adding to his confidence as he went about beating higher-ranked players.

For Bhat, who was amused and anxious in equal part over being stuck in the 40s since December last year, the loss was gut-wrenching, but one he8217;s hoping to forget soon. 8220;Everytime I was in a comfortable position, I slackened when I should8217;ve closed it out, and that8217;s when Chetan put in that little extra,8221; he summed up.

Yet, counting many positives from this match, Bhat sounded hopeful of doing well in the coming events 8212; the Dutch Open GP, which will have a few Malaysian players as additions to the field, followed by the French Open.

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8220;I8217;m playing my best and reading my opponents better than ever. It8217;ll come together soon,8221; he added. The rivalry, which helps both push each other8217;s limits, can only bode well for India. And to think that Anup Sridhar was at home, not figuring in the tournament at all.

Jwala, meanwhile, had her own reasons to celebrate India8217;s double whammy. 8220;Diju and I have always managed good wins, having beaten world No 5 and 7 previously, but we needed this win to put all critics8217; doubts to rest. This was a big one, since there was so much pressure,8221; she said.