Popat pulls out of Sudirman Cup

India's campaign at the forthcoming World badminton championships suffered a setback after top women's shuttler Aparna Popat pulled out of the team because of her examinations.

Chief coach S M Arif said Aparna informed him that she would not be able to participate in the Sudirman Cup and World championships, from May 28 to June 2, and June 3 to 6 respectively, at Seville, Spain, as she discontinued training in view of the examinations and would not be able to perform well.

"It (Aparna's pull out) is definitely a setback as she is the most experienced player and has tremendous exposure at the international level," Arif said. "Definitely it will have some effect, but we can't help it."

Arif indicated that Manjusha Kanwar would replace Aparna for the singles.

Aparna, who was named captain of the women's team on Tuesday, is in Bombay to prepare and answer her examinations.

"Manjusha is playing very well. We will prefer her. We will have to bank on the second best (Manjusha)," he said.

On India's chances in the Sudirman Cup, Arif said Hong Kong would be a tough opponent "but the country is expected to win easily against Wales and Austria".

"We are not expecting much (challenge) from Austria and Wales. We are confident of pulling through but Hong Kong is a tough team in our group. They have a very, very balanced side. We have got to fight them out," he said.

Arif felt All England champion Pulella Gopichand can win the World title.

"Gopi is definitely very high mentally and his morale is high. I firmly believe he can defeat anybody. He can win the World championship."

Meanwhile, apart from Aparna, two other shuttlers named in the national squad for the two international events -- B R Meenakshi (reserve) and V Diju -- have not joined the national camp which began in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Arif said Meenakshi and Diju are having exams and would join the camp shortly, adding, Meenakshi will attend the camp in the evenings while Diju has only one exam left.

The coach sought to put at rest the controversy about the venue of the camp, which started at SAI Centre in Bangalore on Tuesday but was shifted to the Karnataka Badminton Association courts on Wednesday evening.

"All the players were keen to come here since all the four earlier camps were held here (KBA courts). They enjoy the facilities here. I informed our (Badminton Association of India) president, V K Verma, who agreed to shift the venue," he said.

BAI secretary S S Mani had announced last month that the camp would be held at SAI Centre, apparently upset over not being invited for the felicitation function organised by KBA in honour of Gopichand for winning the All England title.