NEW DELHI: The pleasure was once palpable in his voice as reigning males's singles champion Parupalli Kashyap predicted the Indian badminton team's best-ever haul, including a medal in each and every match, on the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Four years ago, Kashyap had damaged a 32-year-old file when he won India's third males's singles gold at CWG, emulating Prakash Padukone (1978) and Syed Modi (1982).
His exploits helped India convey home 4 medals from the discipline on the Glasgow Games - one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Since that day when he stood with the tri-colour draping him, Kashyap's lifestyles took an enormous turn as multiple accidents, including a calf muscle tear and a knee surgical procedure coupled with poor form, saw his ranking dip and he sooner or later 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 Prannoy and Srikanth have done exceptionally well," the previous world number 6 said.
"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."
Top seed India were drawn with minnows Pakistan, Scotland and Sri Lanka in Group A of the Games, which will be held from April 4 to 15.
"We are most sensible seeded this time and it could boil down to who we play in semi-finals. England have respectable males and combined doubles and there is Rajiv Ouseph in singles, however I believe advantage is with India as HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth can beat him although Rajiv typically performs higher in such state of affairs.
"Chirag and Satwik also are enjoying well, so it could be a very powerful. I feel it is 60-40 in India's favour," Kashyap said.
"Against Malaysia, this can be a 40-60 state of affairs for us even with Lee Chong Wei because in women's singles we're sturdy. Men's doubles and combined doubles they're higher on paper, so it could be tough.
"Even if we unfortunately lose in semis we still should win bronze as there are no team strong enough to compete. Last time we lost to Singapore but then they had decent mixed and men's doubles. Me and Sindhu had won but we lost the doubles. So I feel we will win a medal for sure in team event," he explains.
Both Kashyap and RMV Gurusaidutt, who had won the bronze in 2014 CWG, couldn't make it to the team this time.
2010 champion Saina Nehwal, in the meantime, will return to compete in women's singles after an injury dominated her out of Glasgow.
Saina along side Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu are sizzling favourites to win the women's singles gold this time and Kashyap feels ideally the duo must combat it out in the ultimate.
"In women's singles, Saina and Sindhu must succeed in the finals. Canada's Michelle Li (CWG gold) is there she is doing well, so it could be doing that one fit correctly. Malaysia are respectable however they shouldn't be a danger for Saina and Sindhu.
"But in males's singles, Malaysia have just Lee Chong Wei and England have Rajiv, they've despatched just one entry in singles. So all 4 must succeed in the semifinal any manner."
Three-time Olympic silver medallist and former world no 1 Lee Chong Wei have won the gold twice in 2006 and 2010 edition. However, Prannoy had luck against the Malaysia at Indonesia Open and Denmark Open remaining 12 months. Besides, the Malaysian additionally crashed out of the Glasgow World Championship after dropping in the opening spherical.
"Never count a senior participant out. He has won gold in 2010 and 2006 and 3 silvers in Olympics. He knows he has to up his stage. He will combat and be in a better position. So he will be truly tough to overcome," said Kashyap, who won the Austrian Open remaining month and reached the 2017 US Open ultimate.
"People say he loses against Lin Dan however then it is always in the finals. So he has principally thrashed everyone else to succeed in the finals, he's boss on the subject of big events. It is a outstanding success, so he's the favorite."
The 31-year-old from Hyderabad believes it'll be all about handling power and said the doubles pairs too have a superb opportunity.
"In males's doubles, I be expecting Chirag and Satwik to succeed in the medal spherical, they're enjoying well however there is always power because there's a respectable pair from Singapore and could be two pairs from England," he said.
"In combined doubles, there is Chris and Gabby and two Malaysian pairs, so it'll be tough combat for Jerry and Sikki to get a medal however they've been enjoying well, they reached the semi-finals of Japan and India Open. So they are able to win if combat hard.
"Ashwin and Sikki have a clear chance to win a medal. They are capable, they have beaten tougher opponents, there will be two Malaysian, an English and Singapore pair but I think they can win."
Four years ago, Kashyap had damaged a 32-year-old file when he won India's third males's singles gold at CWG, emulating Prakash Padukone (1978) and Syed Modi (1982).
His exploits helped India convey home 4 medals from the discipline on the Glasgow Games - one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Since that day when he stood with the tri-colour draping him, Kashyap's lifestyles took an enormous turn as multiple accidents, including a calf muscle tear and a knee surgical procedure coupled with poor form, saw his ranking dip and he sooner or later 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 Prannoy and Srikanth have done exceptionally well," the previous world number 6 said.
"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."
Top seed India were drawn with minnows Pakistan, Scotland and Sri Lanka in Group A of the Games, which will be held from April 4 to 15.
"We are most sensible seeded this time and it could boil down to who we play in semi-finals. England have respectable males and combined doubles and there is Rajiv Ouseph in singles, however I believe advantage is with India as HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth can beat him although Rajiv typically performs higher in such state of affairs.
"Chirag and Satwik also are enjoying well, so it could be a very powerful. I feel it is 60-40 in India's favour," Kashyap said.
"Against Malaysia, this can be a 40-60 state of affairs for us even with Lee Chong Wei because in women's singles we're sturdy. Men's doubles and combined doubles they're higher on paper, so it could be tough.
"Even if we unfortunately lose in semis we still should win bronze as there are no team strong enough to compete. Last time we lost to Singapore but then they had decent mixed and men's doubles. Me and Sindhu had won but we lost the doubles. So I feel we will win a medal for sure in team event," he explains.
Both Kashyap and RMV Gurusaidutt, who had won the bronze in 2014 CWG, couldn't make it to the team this time.
2010 champion Saina Nehwal, in the meantime, will return to compete in women's singles after an injury dominated her out of Glasgow.
Saina along side Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu are sizzling favourites to win the women's singles gold this time and Kashyap feels ideally the duo must combat it out in the ultimate.
"In women's singles, Saina and Sindhu must succeed in the finals. Canada's Michelle Li (CWG gold) is there she is doing well, so it could be doing that one fit correctly. Malaysia are respectable however they shouldn't be a danger for Saina and Sindhu.
"But in males's singles, Malaysia have just Lee Chong Wei and England have Rajiv, they've despatched just one entry in singles. So all 4 must succeed in the semifinal any manner."
Three-time Olympic silver medallist and former world no 1 Lee Chong Wei have won the gold twice in 2006 and 2010 edition. However, Prannoy had luck against the Malaysia at Indonesia Open and Denmark Open remaining 12 months. Besides, the Malaysian additionally crashed out of the Glasgow World Championship after dropping in the opening spherical.
"Never count a senior participant out. He has won gold in 2010 and 2006 and 3 silvers in Olympics. He knows he has to up his stage. He will combat and be in a better position. So he will be truly tough to overcome," said Kashyap, who won the Austrian Open remaining month and reached the 2017 US Open ultimate.
"People say he loses against Lin Dan however then it is always in the finals. So he has principally thrashed everyone else to succeed in the finals, he's boss on the subject of big events. It is a outstanding success, so he's the favorite."
The 31-year-old from Hyderabad believes it'll be all about handling power and said the doubles pairs too have a superb opportunity.
"In males's doubles, I be expecting Chirag and Satwik to succeed in the medal spherical, they're enjoying well however there is always power because there's a respectable pair from Singapore and could be two pairs from England," he said.
"In combined doubles, there is Chris and Gabby and two Malaysian pairs, so it'll be tough combat for Jerry and Sikki to get a medal however they've been enjoying well, they reached the semi-finals of Japan and India Open. So they are able to win if combat hard.
"Ashwin and Sikki have a clear chance to win a medal. They are capable, they have beaten tougher opponents, there will be two Malaysian, an English and Singapore pair but I think they can win."
We should win a medal in all five events, says Kashyap
![We should win a medal in all five events, says Kashyap]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 31, 2018
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