Anupama aims to break into top-50

Deepankar Sharda

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Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 11

Having achieved her highest BWF career ranking — 63rd in the World junior girls’ singles category — 15-year-old Panchkula shuttler Anupama Upadhyaya is determined to break into the top-50 by the end of the year.

Anupama is also ranked 13th in the Badminton Association of India (BAI) U-19 rankings, and to improve her standing she is eager to finish on the podium in the Senior National Championship, scheduled to be held in Lucknow from April 27-May 2. However, the tournament is under the cloud due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“A podium finish in the national championship will surely help me in improving my rankings. I am eager to win more titles at the national level, which will enable me to compete in more international tournaments,” said Anupama, who won a silver medal in the Kenya International Series in Mombasa at the start of this year.

Asked about the virus threat to the tournament, Anupama said: “It has affected the entire world… I am staying indoors and watching some old videos and making a note of the mistakes that I committed in those matches. I am also taking online fitness classes.”

Anupama, who had earlier won a bronze medal in the Ugandan International Series in Kampala, also informed that she was eager to make the cut for the next edition of the Kenya International Series. “It is a BWF approved tournament. The top performers on the national circuit will be allowed to play in this championship,” she said, adding: “I have more championships lined-up for August and September.”

Anupama has been shortlisted for the Khelo India programme and trains at the Shining Star Academy in Bahadurgarh, Haryana.

Earlier, the promising shuttler won a bronze in the President Cup Nepal Junior International Series in Kathmandu and finished third in Pembangunan Jaya Raya Junior Grand Prix in Indonesia. She has also represented India in the Sub-Junior Asian Badminton Championship in Surabaya.

On the domestic circuit, Anupama has won the 33rd Sub Junior National Badminton Championship held in Bhubaneshwar and bagged a bronze medal in the 44th Junior National Badminton Championship in Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh.

She also secured the third position in Dr Jakkampudi Rammohan Rao Memorial 44th Inter-State Zonal Junior National Badminton Championship at Rajamundry. However, the most memorable victory for the youngster remains the women’s singles title at the North Zone Inter-State Badminton Tournament in Panchkula.

“Winning at home… it was special,” said Anupama. “Soon after, I also won the North Zone Inter-State Zonal Badminton Tournament in Panchkula,” she recalled.