Visakhapatnam: After putting up a stellar performance at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, tennis player Saketh Sai Myneni said that he is targeting the 2016 Rio Olympics by securing a position in top 100 in ATP men's ranking.
The 26-year-old player from Visakhapatnam, Myneni bagged gold medal in mixed doubles with compatriot Sania Mirza beating Taipei's Hsien Yin Peng and Hao Ching Chan in straight sets 6-4 6-3.
Saketh also secured silver medal in Men's doubles with Sangam Singh as they lost to Hyeon Chung and Yongkyu Lim of Korea by 7-5 7-6 (2).
Saketh told reporters here today at his felicitation programme by the Century Club that he is eyeing the 2016 Rio Olympics by improving the game to secure place in top 100 ranking, which is the qualifying rank to participate in the Olympic Games.
"Three months back my ranking was 250 and at present it is 400 as I could not play for two to three months due to some injury earlier," Sanketh said.
He said that it was his experience playing doubles and termed it as a great exposure.
"This was the first time I played doubles that too with a great player Sania Mirza. It gave me a great exposure," he said.
On playing with Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Sanketh said, "It was a great opportunity. I have not faced any problem because I knew Sania Mirza and her game. In fact it is great as a such a good player like her chose to play the mixed doubles with me. I Understood the game plan and executed it well to win the medal."
He said he had started playing at the age of 12 in Visakhapatnam with the Century club and later moved to Hyderabad.
"My parents and friends supported me well. Later, at 17, I moved to USA and joined in University of Alabama where I improved my game along with the studies and studied Financial Economics. The stay there was a great exposure to my game as I learnt several techniques there," he said.
On being asked whether he has any plans to start tennis academy in the city as part of development of the game, the young player said that at present he has no plans and would currently focus on the game.
"But we need good infrastructure like hard courts for international exposure. Tennis is a costly game and we have to spend more money on hard courts," he added.
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