India’s long wait for an Olympic medal in badminton might come to an end in the upcoming London Olympics as this time it is a formidable unit that is leaving for the games, says a report in The Times of India.
The team of five shuttlers is the biggest Indian badminton contingent after the sport gained entry into the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.
World number five Saina Nehwal will lead the Indian charge and is considered to be the best bet for India. Sania won two back-to-back titles and her form looks menacing going into the tournament.
Saina Nehwal in the last four years, has won five Super Series titles -- Indonesia (2009, 2010, 2012), Singapore (2010) and Hong Kong (2010) -- and reached the finals of Malaysia Super Series, Indonesia Super Series and Super Series Masters Final last year, says a report in the Hindustan Times.
Apart from these titles she has also won the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold in 2011 and 2012, besides clinching the Commonwealth Games gold and India Open Grand Prix in 2009 and India Open Grand Prix Gold in 2010 and will arguably is one of the biggest contenders for India in London.
Meanwhile, Former national chief badminton coach Syed Mohammed Arif is confident of Saina winning a medal in London, says a report in The Hindu.
Arif said, “I firmly believe that the way she is playing she should be getting a medal for the country this time. What medal depends on the particular day, how she is moving and how she is playing.”
Arif believes that things will be much tougher for P. Kashyap in men's singles, “I would say if he is getting a medal it will be bonus because in men's section there is very tough competition. He has to play an extraordinary game and also need luck to get a medal”, said Arif.
