‘Expectations help me perform better’
Parupalli Kashyap
Shuttler Parupalli Kashyap is keen to use “home advantage” at the Yonex Sunrise India Open, scheduled in the capital later this month.
Kashyap, considered a title favourite, said: “The tag of being one of the tournament favourites is actually a good thing and motivating. At no point do I feel any pressure due to expectations from my fans. It only helps me perform better.”
The world number eight was optimistic about his chances in the $200,000 event, to be held from April 23 to 28.
“I have a very good chance of winning the tournament this time and am hoping to become the first Indian to win the India Open,” he said.
The 26-year-old Kashyap qualified for the 2012 Olympics in the previous edition here and went on to reach the quarter-finals at the London Games.
“I always enter a tournament aiming to win and nothing changes in the India Open. I have lot of points to defend, but my focus will be to win the tournament,” said Kashyap, the winner of the 2012 Syed Modi India Grand Prix Gold tournament.
The Hyderabadi has stormed into the Badminton World Federation’s top-10 rankings in the last four months and said it helped as he has been a seeded player in most tournaments since.
“It hasn’t been long since I broke into the top 10. Things have changed suddenly for me and from being an underdog, I have started appearing as a top-seeded player. It proves that anyone can shift gears and be a force to reckon with. I take every match seriously and avoid getting complacent,” he said.
Kashyap was knocked out of the quarter-finals of this year’s All England Open but said the tournament helped him assess his mistakes.
“I was playing well in the All England, but made a few errors that cost me. I have definitely carried a lot of positives from the All England and it will help me during the tournament in Delhi,” he said.
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