Is India capable of ending long medal wait in 2012 London Olympics? – Badminton Feature
India may not be the strongest contender for gold medal in London Olympics but still the nation is hoping its campaigners will end the long streak of failures by defying all odds.
This year, for the first time in history, five Indian shuttlers have earned the honour to participate in most respected event of the badminton world and they have alarmed all the contestants with their elevated performance in recent past.
National squad comprises Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap in Women’s and Men’s Singles departments while Women’s and Mixed Doubles events will see prime couples Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa and Diju V-Jwala Gutta swinging arms to lock the honour.
Now, when the badminton lovers are expecting a podium finish in Wembley Arena from these shuttlers, here is sneak preview of their performances in 2012 Olympic edition.
India’s biggest bet will be Women’s Singles expert Saina Nehwal who has aroused hopes by clinching three prestigious titles just before the mega event.
World Number five shuttler successfully defended her title in 2012 Swiss Open and then claimed the crown in two consecutive tournaments, the Thailand Open and Indonesia Open last month.
The London Games will be her second appearance in the Olympics as she has represented country also in Beijing where she crashed out of quarter-final round.
However, she has been proving her worth since 2008 as she registered her presence by winning gold medal in Commonwealth Games and then bagging eight Super Series titles in 2010 and 2011.
Meanwhile, she successfully maintained her position in top five female shuttlers of the world and now she has become the biggest threat to Chinese supremacy in Women’s Singles arena.
Despite of her brilliancy in the game, the 22-year-old Saina will be looking to put an extra effort to land on the podium as other contenders will also put all in their possession to hit the mark in the Olympics.
Similarly, Men’s Singles campaigner Parupalli Kashyap will also be looking have to prove his point in front of world beaters like Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, Chen Long and Chen Jin.
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kashyap has registered his mark by outshining World Number three Chen Long and World Number 14 Hans Kristian Vittinghus in 2012 Indonesia Open.
It will be an uphill task for World Number 21 shuttler to rise in presence of badminton legends but still he can secure a medal by delivering one or two stunners in the mega event.
India is going to field Jwala-Ashwini in Women’s Doubles event and the World Number 20 duo is in high spirits to escort the country to glory.
Though, Commonwealth gold medallists have potential to dazzle any world class pair but they will have to play their heart out to secure a respectable position on victory stand as they have been off colour for last couple of years.
The 28-year-old member of the couple Jwala Gutta will also grace Mixed Doubles event with her partner Diju V.
World Number 13 duo Jwala-Diju rose to new heights when they became country’s first pair to win a Grand Prix Gold title in 2009 and then wore bronze medals in 2010 Commonwealth Games.
However, consistency has been their problem like all other Indian shuttlers and this certainly puts a big question mark on their prospects in 2012 London Olympics.
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