NEWS
SCHEDULES
COLUMNS
PREVIOUS TOURS
OTHER SPORTS
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

The Rediff Interview / Aparna Popat

'Even if I were to go for the Olympics I wouldn't really be a contender'

Aparna Popat is the reigning women's national badminton champion. After reaching a career-high ranking of 20, she was in for a rude shock at the end of India's Uber Cup campaign in Delhi earlier this year. The International Badminton Federation banned her from the sport for three months after she tested positive for a banned substance, phenylpropanolamine.

At a hearing in Birmingham, on March 11, the IBF disciplinary committee found her guilty of using phenylpropanolamine, which was detected in D’Cold Total, a proprietary medicine she used to treat cold and flu she was suffering from during the event.

As a result of the ban, Aparna's world ranking dropped below 50 and her chances of making it to the Olympics have diminished. She is currently third on the reserve list for the Sydney Games and will only play if other players pull out. As the ban draws to an end, the resilient Bangalore-based player is back on the court, training harder than ever to regain her form and fitness. In an interview with K Nagarajan, 23-year-old champion reflects on the ban and her plans for the future.

Aparna, first of all tell us how you have dealt with the ban in the past three months?

I think, initially it was very difficult. But my conscience was clear and that made things much easier. Now I am totally over the issue and am ready to do what I do best; play badminton.

How have the past three months been?

It was definitely a nightmare. Every morning you wake up and this thing is put on your head. It was almost like an accusation for something I would never think of doing even in my dreams. It was just a freak case and it was really very unfortunate for me. It was difficult initially as I said, but once I got back on court and started practising regularly things have been much easier for me.

It's a setback to your career, isn't it?

Very frankly, the only major setback as far as my career is concerned is the Olympics qualification. We still have to see about that. I am number three on the reserve list for the Olympics so I do have an outside chance of making the grade. I was a bit upset about it because in the Uber cup in Delhi, I had played very well and was very happy about my performance. But you just can't do much about a situation like this. You just have to get back, maintain your form and prove yourself all over again.

There have also been a few other injury concerns over these last few weeks, isn't it?

I should say that I am a bit lucky that all these problems came at one time. I had to undergo tooth surgery, which put me out for a month or so. It all came together and I had to recover slowly, mentally as well as physically. I wouldn't say that I am fully fit yet but I am getting back.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming international tournaments?

First of all it is important for me to get my form back after which I will decide which international tournaments I want to play and take it from there. It's going to be difficult for me and I think it will still take me a month or so to get back into the groove.

As far as the Olympics is concerned, won't you be disappointed at not achieving that aim?

My aim wasn't just to qualify for the Olympics. I always wanted to get into the top 15 or the top 10. So it hasn't put me off so badly. The other thing is that I am not fit enough and even if I were to go for the Olympics I wouldn't really be a contender.

Interviews