Commonwealth Games gold medallist P Kashyap predicted the Indian badminton team’s best-ever haul in the quadrennial event – a medal in each of the five categories – at Gold Coast 2018.
Four years ago, Kashyap had broken a 32-year-old record when he won India’s third men’s singles gold at the Commonwealth Games, emulating Prakash Padukone (1978) and Syed Modi (1982). His exploits helped India bring home four medals from Glasgow 2014 – one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Since that day, Kashyap’s life took a massive turn as multiple injuries, including a calf muscle tear and a knee surgery coupled with poor form, saw his ranking dip and he eventually missed the bus for the Gold Coast Games.
“I would have loved to play again but if I were the team selectors, I wouldn’t put myself in the team because [HS] Prannoy and [Kidambi] Srikanth have done exceptionally well,” the world No 42 told PTI.
“We have a good team and if we can play to our potential, best possible scenario we should win a medal in all five categories, so more than four medals for sure,” he added.
Top seeds India have been drawn with minnows Scotland, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Group A in the mixed-team event that will precede the individual competition. Kashyap expects India to surely win a medal in the mixed-team event.
“We are top seeded this time and it would boil down to who we play in semi-finals,” Kashyap said. “England have decent men and mixed doubles and there is [world No 22] Rajiv Ouseph in singles, but I feel advantage is with India as HS Prannoy and K Srikanth can beat him even though Rajiv generally plays better in such situation.”
He added, “Chirag [Shetty] and Satwik [Sairaj Rankireddy] are also playing well, so it would be crucial. I think it is 60-40 in India’s favour. Against Malaysia, it is a 40-60 situation for us even with [world No 6] Lee Chong Wei because in women’s singles we are strong. Men’s doubles and mixed doubles they are better on paper, so it would be difficult.”
Both Kashyap and RMV Gurusaidutt, who had won the bronze in Glasgow, couldn’t make it to the team this time. 2010 champion Saina Nehwal, meanwhile, will return to compete in women’s singles after an injury ruled her out of Glasgow.
Nehwal, along with Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu are hot favourites to win the women’s singles gold this time and Kashyap feels ideally the duo should fight it out in the final.
“In women’s singles, Saina and Sindhu should reach the finals. Canada’s Michelle Li (defending champion) is there she is doing well, so it would be doing that one match correctly. Malaysia are decent but they shouldn’t be a threat for Saina and Sindhu.
“But in men’s singles, Malaysia have just Lee Chong Wei and England have Rajiv, they have sent just one entry in singles. So all four should reach the semi-final any way.”
The 31-year-old from Hyderabad said the doubles pairs too have a good chance and believes it will be all about handling pressure. “In men’s doubles, I expect Chirag and Satwik to reach the medal round. They are playing well but there is always pressure because there is a decent pair from Singapore and might be two pairs from England,” he said.
“In mixed doubles, there is Chris and Gabby [Adcock] and two Malaysian pairs, so it will be tough fight for [Pranaav] Jerry [Chopra] and Sikki [Reddy] to get a medal but they have been playing well, they reached the semi-finals of the Japan Open [last year] and the India Open. So they can win if fight hard.”
As for the women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy, Kashyap felt the duo have a clear chance to win a medal. “They are capable, they have beaten tougher opponents, there will be two Malaysian, an English and a Singapore pair but I think they can win.”
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