National champion Chetan Anand is miffed with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for stopping him from participating in international tournaments, and feels its rigid stance has all but ended his chances of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics.

“I was the number one in India but my rankings dipped after Badminton Association of India stopped me from playing in international tournaments last year. This has been a blow to my chances of qualifying for the Olympics,” Anand said.

Along with the doubles team of Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian, Anand had revolted against BAI on this issue last year. BAI had asked players to attend a national camp instead of playing international events.

The trio was dropped from the Sudirman Cup team for defying BAI’s diktat.

“Only top players can qualify for the Olympics. I am world number 44 at the moment and it will be very difficult for me to qualify because I don’t think I would be able to make a huge leap by the April 30 deadline.

But if I really do well in the Indian open and Asian Championship, then I will qualify for the Olympics,” he said.
His Olympic dream may be all but shattered, but Anand said he was optimistic about his wife Jwala’s chances of making the cut for Beijing.

“She is world number 25 at the moment and by doing well in the India Open, she can come into the top-20,” he said.

Indian Open
Anand added that he was focussing on the upcoming Indian Open in Hyderabad to earn valuable ranking points.
“I am playing well at the moment. For two weeks, I was in Europe and improved my speed and fitness.
“I am hopeful of at least making the semifinals of the India Open,” he said.

“A couple of top Chinese players will be missing but that doesn’t make it any easier.”

However, he asserted that the new 21-point system has created a door of opportunity for the Indian players also.

‘’Since the 21-point system has changed, all top players have not been so consistent. We also have a chance of winning a medal if luck favours us,’’ he added.