Much needed exposure

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If it was the dearth of international exposure that had restricted the strides of many yesteryear badminton champs, let us be assured that times are changing.

In the last few weeks alone, young talents from the state, to be precise from the Badminton Academy in the Regional Sports Centre in Kochi, won a couple of international events and are ready now for bigger challenges.

Those who made their mark abroad include, national player Aparna Balan, Alwin Francis, Bennet Antony and Suraj P.H.

Kozhikode girl Aparna, who was part of the silver winning Indian team at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, won silver in mixed doubles, partnering Arun Vishnu at an international challenge in Maldives, last week.

“It was a good tournament and we had defeated a few seeded pairs en route to the finals. We lost the tournament to a Canadian pair, it was a tight match. But, on the whole the win has given me a lot of confidence,” said Aparna.

Meanwhile, Alwin and K.A. Anish won an invitation tournament at Riyadh and a few days before that they had finished runner-up in a tournament at Dubai.

It was Bennet and Suraj who defeated Alwin and his partner in the Dubai tournament. Last year, Bennet and Alwin were runners-up at an international challenge in Bahrain.

“It was a nice tour of a couple of weeks. Initially, I and Bennet were the pair and in Bahrain, last year, we lost to the experienced pair of Sanave (Thomas) and Roopesh (Kumar),” said Alwin.

Today, the four undergo training at the academy under coach M.J. Mohanachandran and he says it is essential for players to compete in foreign conditions so as to gain the confidence in playing away from home.

Bennet, who hails from Thrissur is the state runners-up and has been training at the academy for the last two years.

Alwin from Pala and Kochi lad Suraj have been regulars at the academy for several years. The recent tour abroad has pulled these youngsters of the fear zone and they are now ready for serious challenges.

Foreign challenges aren’t new for Aparna, who has been in the mainstream for a while but it has indeed given a boost to the young lads.

“It has changed our approach a lot as while playing abroad you have pressure. You know that people would watch you and then there is the issue of unfamiliar conditions.

Now, we are ready to play more tournaments, said Alwin as Bennet and Suraj nodded in acceptance.