India has High Chance of Winning Multiple Medals at CWG 2018: Gopichand

Winning Commonwealth Games is always a nostalgia for the Indian badminton, after Prakash Padukone’s win, the first winner from the country, in 1978. Later in 1982 in it’s immediate version, late Syed Modi brought back the title.

After two and half score years in 2010, Saina Nehwal lifted the first ever trophy at New Delhi in the women’s singles individual category, and women’s doubles title by Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa in the same year.

In 2014, Parupalli Kashyap was the first person to win the title after defeating Derek Wong of Singapore in the men’s singles category, after Syed Modi. In the semi-finals round, Kashyap defeated Rajiv Ouseph of England, to avenge his loss in the 2010 CWG semifinals in the mixed team event and stood at the podium with bronze after defeating the compatriot Chetan Buradagunta.

India has total of 5 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze medals in the cabin.

As the Indian team is on board for Gold Coast in Australia, national chief coach Pullela Gopichand is buoyant about making mark at the Commonwealth Games 2018.

“I’m hopeful that the Indian powerhouse will be converted into medals in this edition. Besides strong opposition, we have the players to make a mark in the Gold Coast. There is every chance of winning multiple medals in a couple of events. It is a possibility,” he said as quoted in Telangana Today.

“We have prepared well. We have made our homework. It is all about executing our plans. We have the team and the players to be a force reckon with in world badminton,” he added.

The Dronacharya awardee is expectant that Kidambi Srikanth would be back on track to the last year’s form when he won four Super Series titles and HS Prannoy’s much improved game also will help India to win medals. “Although there could be a strong challenge coming from the seasoned Lee Chong Wei, I liked the way Srikanth and Prannoy played in All England championship. Both of them lost on match points. They are raring to go.”

About Olympic queens, “Sindhu is shaping up well. Although she lost some close matches, she has learnt from her mistakes. Of course she needs to be consistent. Saina is working hard and I’m hopeful she gets into winning mode,” he said.

“While, Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa will definitely stand a chance,” he said, “Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has the talent to be the world beaters, who won some big matches in the recent times. They are still learning.”

“I feel there will be longer rallies and longer matches at the Gold Coast,” he concluded.