Updated on Saturday, July 04, 2009, 20:50 IST

Mumbai, July 04: Chetan Anand has decided to take part in an international tournament to tune up for the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad next month.

“I normally take some time to get used to the speed of the game at the international level. I have decided to take part in the Thai Open later this month, instead of training at home, ahead of the World Championship,” Anand told reporters after reaching the Tata Open final on Saturday.

Anand, who said he was hundred per cent fit now following a foot injury sustained earlier, welcomed the move of the World Championship’s organisers to shut down the air conditioners in the stadium in Hyderabad when the matches would be in progress.

“There was a lot of drift when we played there (in the Indian Open). It was difficult to control the shuttle. I have never faced this kind of problem when playing in other air conditioned places overseas,” he said.

Anand also said the Indian players are well-bonded now which should stand the team in good stead. He also felt that five players in the top 50 world rankings was a good portend and hoped sponsors would step in more now.

“The government support is very good now and had it been the case earlier we would have done better earlier too,” he said.

Bureau Report