Ahead of CWG, Indian shuttlers high on confidence

Hyderabad, Sept 28 (INN): Confidence of Indian Badminton team is on all time high on the eve of the Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting event in the countrys history. Preparations of the countrys sporting heroes for the Games are well underway with the Badminton team expected to bag Gold in Women Singles and at least a medal in Team Championship. According to National Coach SM Arif, the Badminton Association of India has announced the Indian Team comprising of Chetan Anand, P Kashyap, Saravae Thomas, Ropesh Kumar and V Diju in Mens category and Saina Nehwal, Aditya Mukatkar, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponappa and Apparna Balan in Womens category.

In order to win the Team Championship, the team has to win three tittles out of five i.e, Mens Singles, Women Singles, Men Doubles, Womens Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Mr Arif says that it is expected that in Team Championship for Mens Singles Chetan Anand and for Womens Singles Saina Nehwal , For Mens Doubles Sanath Thomas and Rupesh Kumar, for Womens Doubles Jwala Gutta and Ashwini would compete for top honours.

For the Mixed Doubles Jwala Gutta and Diju would compete if opponents are tough otherwise Jwala Gutta would be rested and Apparna Balan and Diju would compete for top honours. In Individual Championships two players for Mens Singles and Two players for Women Singles, one pair for Men Doubles, one pair for Women Doubles and one Mixed Doubles team will represent the country.

In Team Championships, a Medal is expected and there would be very close competition between Malaysia and India. Historically, India has never beaten Malaysia either in Singles, Doubles or Mixed Doubles. This has led to some Doubting Thomases that the Gold Medal will be just beyond our grasp, but since the Games are being played in the country, home advantage is also expected to play its part. As India is in Group D, it is expected to easily top the group as it has no tough opponents. The group consists of Wales, India, Scotland, Barbados and Kenya.

In Individual Championship Saina Nehwal is expected to bag the Gold Medal as she is the top seeded player. Chetan Anands prospects depends upon the draw as he has been nursing injuries. Chetan has that unique capacity to dominate any player on his given day as he is very dangerous player and equipped with unique weapons in his armoury and his speciality lies in being highly deceptive and lovely footwork. He is expected to give a good show, despite his injuries and his personal problems.

In Mens Doubles, Malaysia, England and Singapore are strong contenders. But coming to Womens Doubles, everything depends on the draw, with the nation expecting a Medal. In Mens Doubles too, a Medal is expected as the team is ranked 7th in the in the world. The toughest challenge for the country comes from the Malaysians and Badminton enthusiasts are busy, praying for a miracle. England is considered to be very strong in Doubles and Mixed Doubles but not in Singles.

In 1998, Malaysia had won Gold and India Silver. India had won medals earlier in the past quite a number of times but have not managed to beat Malaysia, and neither have England and Singapore. The World No 1 player Lee Chang Wei is from Malaysia, so too are the Doubles players Ku and Keet. The tournament begins on October 5.