Grit and gumption define Verma

For the third time in as many days Sourabh,20,overcame the challenge of a higher-ranked player to advance,on Thursday to the quarterfinals of the India Open Super Series,and maintain his impressive run at the Siri Fort Complex courts. He faces World No.1 Lee Chong Wei on Friday. If he pulls off another unlikely upset,this under-rated Indian will become an overnight star. Over the past three days,however,hes done enough to make people take notice of his talent.

In the second match on Court No.1 Verma played aggressively in the third game to stun No.7 seed,Japans Kenichi Tago,21-19,18-21,21-11. This came 24 hours after he outclassed Indonesias Sony Dui Kuncoro,a former top-10 player and runner-up at the 2007 World Championship. Coming through the qualifiers wasnt easy as Sourabh,218 in the world,had to face Malaysias Chun Seang Tan,ranked 106 places above him.

His mate at the Gopichand Academy at Gachibowli,Hyderabads RMV Gurusai Dutt,guaranteed the dream run of young Indian mens singles players will last in the quartersfinals when he got past Belgiums Yuhan Tan 21-13,14-21,21-13. Dutts win over Thailands Boonsak Ponasana,the World No.5,on Wednesday and Vermas performance have shifted the focus away from World No.4 Saina Nehwals first round loss.

Moving base

Verma started playing badminton after his father Sudhir,a clerk with the Narmada Vikas Development Authority,coaxed him on a local cement court. He moved to the Sports Authority of India SAI centre in Dhar but if it wasnt for his initiative with Gopichand,Verma would still be worrying about lack of shuttles and erratic court timings.

I have been at the Gopichand academy for about two and a half years. Within the first one year my game really improved. At the SAI centre,courts were allotted to us randomly. I would have to play for a couple of hours and then others would take over. Sometimes I trained early in the morning and the next day late at night. There was always a shortage of shuttles, Sourabh said,explaining how easily he could have faded if he hadnt moved base.

The second year B.Com student won his first senior title at the All-India ranking tournament in Valsad in February. His international exposure has been restricted to Bulgaria,Holland and Germany. He has always been really gritty. He is skillful but doesnt have one particular big shot; but like he has done in this tournament,if an opponent gives him an inch he will take full advantage. He has got excellent anticipation and has the ability to attack and retrieve when opponents are forcing him to defend. Frankly,two years ago nobody gave him a chance but it is heartening to see Sourabh and Gurusai Dutt reach the quarterfinals, Gopichand said.

Father Sudhir,back home in Dhar,is tuning his television to ensure live broadcast of Fridays matches. I heard the quarterfinals are being shown live on television. Tomorrows a big day for him, he said. With his younger brother Sameer already the No.1 ranked junior in India,father Sudhir is happy his elder son too is now making a mark in the senior ranks.

No doubles delight

Local stars continued to fall by the wayside when an error-prone womens doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa were beaten by the Malaysian duo Eei Hui Chin and Pei Tty Wong former world No.1s playing their second tournament on a comeback trail. Wong had injured her knee last August,forcing a six-month layoff. The Malaysians won 20-22,21-18. The mens pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas also lost,to Indonesias Yohanes Rendy Sugiarto and Afiat Yuris Wirawan,19-21 12-21.