Chetan Anand targets Commonwealth Games gold

Ace Indian shuttler Chetan Anand dreams of winning a gold medal in next year's Commonwealth Games and says he would prepare for the mega event in a such way that he gets regular match practice and also improve on the fitness front.

The winner of the recently concluded Syed Modi Grand Prix is hoping that home conditions would help him realise his dream.

"I am aiming to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games next year. Playing at home will be a huge advantage and I think I should exploit the conditions to put pressure on my rivals and play to my strength," Chetan said.

Talking about his preparation for the next season, Chetan said focus would be on better planning with major emphasis on fitness.

"Right now, the plan is to play Malaysia and Korea in January then take a 15-day gap and then there is Thomas cup and all England and Swiss Open. So as of now this is the plan for the next three months," he said.

"I don't want to take a long break. I would like to pace it such a way that once in a month I play a tournament so that there is match practice also. Between playing tournaments and practicing too hard and directly entering a tournament, there is a difference.

"Sometimes it takes time to get your temperament right. Usually the first tournament is not good, as it takes time to get used to the match environment," he added.

The former national champion rues missing the chance to break into the top-10 in 2009 and is determined to achieve the feat next season.

"Aim is to break into the top 10 as early as possible. Last year I was ranked 12th and needed just 400 odd points but couldn't perform well. Next year hopefully I will do well and get those valuable points," he added.

Chetan said the year gone by was a topsy-turvy ride for him as he had to deal with fitness issues, which hampered his performance.

"The initial period this year was not good. Like in 2008, I was playing very well initially but I couldn't keep up with the fitness and some matches which I should have pulled off I couldn't win.

"I took a little break and trained with Prakash Padukone to get my game back. Unfortunately I had problems with my ankle and I didn't push myself that time. Later I won the Dutch Open, I also played well in Danish. Now I'm playing well. So it was a up and down experience," he said.

The world number 16 Indian feels he has matured as a player and has become mentally tough.

"I have matured a lot this year. I don't take pressure on myself even when I am playing lower ranked players. Even if I'm not fit, I keep a positive approach. Earlier I used to put too much pressure on myself and tried to finish up rallies with quick strokes. I have improved mentally," Chetan said.

Photograph: Reuters