To give my best is priority and rest follows: Gurusai Dutt

RMV Gurusai Dutt, the adamant player who thought the one year long gap was not a big deal, says, “You have to understand that things change.”

In 2013, Guru ranked 19th in the BWF World Rankings, in 2017 he was lost somewhere in 900s, and today he has picked up so much; the champion stands at 119th position in the world rankings. What a comeback!

After a year long gap in 2017, the Indian clinched the Bulgarian International in the Men’s Singles event to dust off the career threatening injury stereotype. Prior to the Bulgarian International, he was ready in April to give a comeback at Thailand Open and Hellas Open, but couldn’t progress to further rounds.  

“The complex ankle surgery took me out from any tournament, as I was in rehab. Notwithstanding the level of complexity, the surgery went well. The ankle being the loading area, I had to give it time to strengthen,” said Guru as quoted by TOI.

Guru’s success stories include win at the Bulgaria Open and loss in the summit match of the Welsh International last year. The Commonwealth Games medallist has three international tournaments to participate this year, and he feels good to play again at the international level.

“The touch is missing in the brink of not playing for two long years at such a huge platform. There were too many matches and my ankle couldn’t take high intensity matches,” he disclosed.

“Post-surgery changes has been helping me. I had discussions with with Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand), (Parupalli) Kashyap, my trainers and physio. It took quite a time and a understanding about the change in the fitness regimen and the training that suits me because I cannot run. The output has come well. I’m happy with it,” expressed Dutt.

Guru who reached the main draws at the ongoing Senior Ranking Tournament has no big goals but to give his best. He said, “I want to give my best and not think of Asian Games. If I do that and remain fit, I think I can do well here.”

Other shuttlers who joined him at the tournament are Sourabh Verma, Siril Varma and Abhishek Saini in the Men’s Singles event, while, Apeksha Nayak, Drithi Yatheesh and Gayatri Pullela in the Women’s Singles category among the 32 members.