Indian badminton's latest success story is grappling with a task as tough, if not more, as beating World No 1 Lin Dan.
Anup Sridhar may have set the courts ablaze with a quarter-final appearance in the World Championships last week and hogged a fair amount of media limelight as well, but the Bangalore-based shuttler is still scratching his head over what needs to be done attract sponsors.
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Special: Sridhar stirs it up
After all, he does not belong to that rare breed of sportspersons -- read cricketers -- who with even half of what he has achieved would have been flooded with corporate offers by now.
"I am looking for sponsors because it will be very difficult for me to train and play tournaments abroad without any financial backing. I have already spent so much this year from my pocket," Sridhar said over phone from Bangalore.
"I am planning to go to Denmark before the European tour starts and train there so that I can get accustomed to the conditions before the tournaments. Europe is very expensive and I need some sponsors to back me," he said.
Sridhar is employed with Bharat Petroleum and Bangalore based SKL Software does its bit to help him, but it is not enough for the 25-year-old, who proved that he has the potential to reach higher echelons in the sport.
"I have not approached anybody till now for sponsorship. My coaches at the academy will be talking to a few companies. I hope that reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championships would help," he added.
Away from financial worries, Sridhar, however, is enjoying his day in the sun.
"I am getting this kind of attention for the first time. It feels nice to see that I am getting recognition for my efforts. But I know that I cannot be complacent and have a long way to go," he says.
Sridhar will not have to wait long as he will get a chance to prove his mettle at the Indian Open in Hyderabad, where some of the world's top shuttlers will touchdown for the September 4-9 event.
"I have been drawn against Beng Hong Kuan of Malaysia in the first round. I know there will be expectations and I am looking forward to the event," he said.
And he has enough reason to sound buoyant. Beating two top players, including an Olympic gold medallist, and playing tough against the defending champion and World No 1 Lin Dan has certainly sent Sridhar's confidence soaring.
"This is my best effort so far and it has given me a lot of confidence. It gives you a belief in your abilities, that you can match the best," he said.
"I went to Malaysia 10 days before the World Championships and sparred with top players and that has really helped. I did not expect to do so well. I was taking one game at a time and not putting any pressure on myself," he said.
Asked about the game point that he lost against Lin Dan, Sridhar rued, "That was a bad choice of shot. The shuttle came to my backhand and I was in two minds at that point."
He said he is not thinking as far as next year's Beijing Olympics.
"I do not have the Olympics in mind at present because the qualification is till May 30 next year. There is still time left. This year, I want to gain more experience at the top level and wait for the right time.
"I have the best people around in Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand to guide me at this stage of my career," he said.
