Legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone feels Anup Sridhar is one of India's best bets to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics.
With the May 1, 2008 rankings being the basis of the Badminton World Federation's invitation list released this week, Sridhar, the highest ranked Indian at 33 in the world rankings, will be the country's lone men's singles challenger at the prestigious quadrennial event.
"Olympics is a really special event and it is the dream of every sportsperson to be a part of it. I am working hard at my game and am confident of doing my best at the Games," Sridhar said at a get-together with sponsors and media in Bangalore on Tuesday.
Sridhar is a product of the Tata Prakash Padukone Academy in Bangalore, and Padukone, a former All England champion, has coached him right from when he took to badminton, along with U Vimal Kumar.
Both Padukone and Sridhar's travelling coach Tom John feel Sridhar, who had the highest career ranking of 24 in March and was a quarter-finalist at the 2007 World Badminton Championships last year, is a medal prospect.
"He is a medal prospect," said John. "In the present format, he can upset anybody on his day."
Echoed Padukone: "In the present format, it's possible. It's not wishful thinking (that he can win a medal). He has beaten a couple of top ten players."
Padukone exhorted Sridhar to believe in his ability and take one match at a time and not look too far ahead.
Sridhar, who is recovering from ankle injury, said he would take part in the Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand Open championships in June, and an All-India ranking tournament in Mumbai next month before proceeding to Beijing in August.
"I hope to do well," he said.
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