"One medal for sure, but more than one is possible," says Aparna Popat - London Olympics Update
Former Olympian Aparna Popat gave her vote of confidence to national shuttlers and claimed that India will pocket at least one medal in London Olympics, starting from July 28, 2012.
Aparna, who represented her country in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008, declared Saina Nehwal the biggest bet of India but she did not play down other campaigners’ prospects.
She mentioned Women’s Doubles pair Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa as strong contenders for an Olympic medal and hoped that both female shuttlers will repeat their performance of Commonwealth Games and World Championship.
She said, "One medal for sure, but more than one is possible. As a whole our badminton players have been doing well. Jwala and Ashwini have won medals at world championship and the Commonwealth Games."
The 34-year-old veteran believes Saina is in top form as she defended her Swiss Open title this year before claiming the crown in two back-to-back international events the Thailand Open and the Indonesia Open.
Aparna briefed that she has been closely watching Saina’s game for last few months and declared that the badminton queen will secure respectable position on victory stand.
She said, "I did visit the training centre and met Saina there. I have also been seeing her matches in the Indonesian Open. I am very confidently saying a medal will come."
The World Number five shuttler has received a mixed draw in the mega event as she has been put in Group E where she will face lower ranked opponents in preliminary round but talented shuttlers like Tine Baun and Yao Jie will be waiting for her in the next
rounds.
However, the veteran Indian player Aparna thinks that Saina will not find any trouble en-route to semi-finals where she is expected to meet the top ranked Chinese players.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist also added that India will easily bag six or seven medals from coming London event as they have world beaters also in other sports.
Aparna believes that all national campaigners will put their best to lock the honour as next chance will come after four years. It will be exciting to see what impact the Indian shuttlers will have during the Olympic Games.
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