Aparna Popat optimistic for India’s medal chances at 2012 London Olympics
India’s former top badminton player Aparna Popat is quite optimistic for a medal at 2012 London Olympics as Indian shuttlers have been doing extremely well at international stage for the last few months. The mega event will be held in London in July-August
2012.
Popat, who won the silver medal in 1998 Commonwealth Games and also reached into the quarter-final of 2004 Athens Olympics, has faith in the skills of Saina Nehwal who is World Number Five and has recently clinched two back to back titles including Thailand
Open GP Gold and Indonesia Open Premier Super Series.
The former Indian shuttler said that she is confident that shuttlers will get back with a medal from Olympics. She said that Saina in Women’s Singles and Jwala Gutta – Ashwini Ponnappa in Women’s Doubles can win medals in the mega event.
Popat said, "I am quite optimistic about India`s medal chances: One medal for sure, more also possible. Saina is the best bet but it can be any one. They (Jwala and Ashwini) are obviously bronze medalists in the World championships. Can`t rule them out of
medal contention.”
According to Popat, Saina has been facing immense pressure but she proved her worth by beating the higher ranked Chinese shuttlers to grab the title in Indonesia.
She said, "There was a lot of pressure on her as everybody was talking about matching up to the Chinese and so on and so forth. Beating two Chinese in the Indonesian Open which is such a strong field and winning the title will give her a lot of confidence
for the Games."
Popat also said that playing against the Chinese shuttlers is never easy as you have to be hundred percent fit for beating them.
She said that Saina was well prepared and put up superb show against her Chinese opponents en route to win the Indonesian Open.
In 2010, Saina showed her brilliance and won many Super Series titles by proving her worth against the Chinese shuttlers. But she suffered with a series of injuries in 2011 and failed to stamp her supremacy at international stage.
However, she seems to be back on track at the right time just ahead of Olympics and many expect her to win a medal to break the dead lock for India.
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