In Focus
File

Asian Games 2018: Will Indian Baddies bring an End to Gold Dearth?

By: Swetha Reddy
Date: 16 Aug, 2018
Image Courtesy: File

Indian badminton were able to change the color at the Olympics and the World Championships, proved the best powerhouse at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in mixed and individual events, but they are yet to open the kitty for silver and gold at the Asian Games.

 

It’s getting closer to the year-end finale, the ultimate test for the players in the calendar year. Before that, will India prove once again as the best powerhouse at the upcoming 2018 Asian Games?

 

The tournament will begin from 19th August to 28th August; 19th to 22nd team event, 23rd to 28th individual event in Jakarta, Indonesia.

 

Will India bring an end to gold dearth?

 

Let us get into quick analysis of the Indian shuttlers, before the envision.

 

Kidambi Srikanth

 

Srikanth, who is struggling at the moment, was India’s best bet in the Men’s Singles category in the previous season and brought the old charm at the Commonwealth Games with the silver.

 

If Srikanth gets good draw at the upcoming Asian Games 2018, he can win a medal by playing better with the cream of Men’s Singles shuttlers from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Japan.

 

H.S Prannoy

 

The giant-killer has been proving the worth as he has good record of wins over the modern badminton greats - Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei - though not having a single title since his US Open win. Doesn’t matter the intensity of draws in any level of tournament, Prannoy, can haul good performance consistently with his remarkable victories.

 

Let us hope for the best from him at the Asian Games 2018.

 

PV Sindhu

 


The Worlds queen will gun for glory at the Asiad, after amazing silver consecutive win at the World Championships 2018. At the upcoming continental Games, Sindhu can win gold if she remains as focused as she would be in the lower rounds.

 

Sindhu will face her regular nemeses, but she is foreseen to reach the medal round. Nozomi Okuhara, Akane Yamaguchi, and Tai Tzu Ying are the only shuttlers who have the ability to upset Sindhu.

 

Saina Nehwal

 


The Commonwealth Games 2018 gold winner, Saina is longing to add another continent trophy to her cabinet. Since her 2016 Australian Open win, Saina couldn’t win any of the BWF titles. Except Tai Tzu Ying, Saina can outplay any other player with an ease. Saina is a scintillating medal prospect for India.

 

Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy

 

Will Indian Women’s Doubles win the hat-trick medal at the Continent Games?

 

In 2010, Ashwini Ponnappa pairing with Jwala Gutta created history by winning the first-ever gold medal in the discipline at the Commonwealth Games. After 8 years in 2018, the former pairing with Sikki Reddy won another medal, but bronze at CWG.

 

As a team winning gold at the CWG 2018, Ashwini Ponnappa played the most part to ease the team’s effort.

 

Will the pair succeed the pride at the 2018 Asian Games?

 

Men’s Team

 

Among eight bronze medals won by India at the Asian Games, three were grabbed by the Men’s team. Through years, doubles remained as shadow.

 

But the likes, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, doing well since quite a time now. India will definitely return home rich if Srikanth, Prannoy, and Praneeth excel to their best.

 

Women’s Team

 

The best bets, Sindhu and Saina, will undoubtedly justify their billing, in this discipline, besides Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy’s improvement.

 

In 2014 Asian Games, Women’s Mixed Team - Saina Nehwal, P. V. Sindhu, P. C. Thulasi, Tanvi Lad, Ashwini Ponnappa, Pradnya Gadre and N. Sikki Reddy - were able to bag bronze, the eighth medal in the Indian badminton history, at Incheon, South Korea.

 

With luck in draws, Women’s team can manage podium finish.

 

What’s your take on the Indian badminton? Let us know in the comment section below.


Share this post with your friends

Visitors Guru
Most Viewed
Stay Connected