SARS. That dreaded word has already taken its toll across the globe, affecting various industries not to mention the common man. Sport, too, has started feeling its effects and the latest entrant to the SARS casualty list could be the game of badminton.
Speculations are rife that forthcoming World badminton championships, scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England, may be postponed as a precautionary measure.
Insiders in the International Badminton Federation (IBF) are predicting the worse for the event, with the 50:50 possibility a week back. Since the power base of badminton is Asia -- China, Hong Kong, Malaysia -- and the virus having originated and spread wildly in these parts, the fears are true and valid.
But as the organisers grapple with various bodies across the world, the Indian team is busy limbering up for the event, with the 15-day camp going on at full throttle at the Sports Authority of Indian (SAI) complex in Bangalore.
Indeed, SARS is least of the worries for the team think-tank. The joint-national coach of the Indian team, Vimal Kumar, speaking to rediff.com, said he is confident of the event being staged, adding he is in touch with the IBF authorities.
"There are no plans to postpone or take any such drastic steps. Also the parent association -- the Badminton Association of England -- is busy in the preparations and they have not received any information from the British Home Office regarding travel restrictions," he said.
Kumar feels unless something drastic happens, where SARS takes an unimaginable toll, then only the event will be postponed.
"They (IBF) will give a final decision on the matter by tomorrow morning (April 30)."
As for the precautions taken by the Indian team, the mandatory medical and drug tests have been carried out at the Sports Authority of India, and additional measures have also been taken to guard against the SARS outbreak.
"The Badminton Association of England directive tells us to be ready for some screening tests to be carried out on teams at the airports just as a safety measure," states Kumar, "which is fair enough."
The event, which to be held at the National Indoor Arena between May 12-18, will attract 337 players from 48 countries.
As for the Indian preparations, the Badminton Association of India has organized a 15-day camp in Bangalore and the players are just fine-tuning their technical aspects under the eye of Kumar, a former National champion and international player of repute. He has been appointed as the joint chief coach for the next four years and would be working in tandem with Syed Mohammad Arif, who won't be travelling to England.
Nikhil Kanetkar and Abhinn Shyam Gupta will represent the country in the men's event owing to their good individual ranking. The qualification for the World Championships is based on the individual's ranking as of February 20, 2003. So Kanetakar, ranked 52, and Gupta (56) automatically qualify.
Aparna Popat is the lone entrant in the women's category while Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurien play the women's doubles.
In the men's doubles, India has two combinations: Sanve Thomas/V Diju and Jaseel Ismail/Jaison Xavier.
Kumar is modest and practical when it comes to expectations.
"If the draw is favourable if our players don't run into the Indonesians or the Chinese then they can progress to a few rounds otherwise, I don't accept anything great," he says.
Kumar feels Popat has a chance of at least making the last-16 stage, saying she is his only bright hope.
Talking about hopes, everyone is waiting with bated breath at the moment and hoping SARS doesn't scuttle the progress of one of the most prestigious championships in the shuttle game.
