Indian shuttlers face stiff challenge

Having misssed out on a coveted gold medal in the last edition in Kuala Lumpur, Indian shuttlers will be determined to alter the script and make amends in the 17th Commonwealth Games, beginning in Manchester on Thursday.

The team, which includes star performers Pulella Gopichand and Aparna Popat, has a good chance of landing a gold medal despite stronger opposition this time around.

The Indian shuttlers returned home with two silver and two bronze medals from the Malaysian capital in 1998 but the disappointment of not winning yellow metal will still be fresh in their minds when they launch their campaign at the Bolton Arena on July 26.

The Indian challenge will be spearheaded by former All England champion Gopichand. He did reasonably well in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, pocketing the bronze in the individual event and also played a big part in the men's team silver medal success. But this time around he will face stiff resistance from the Malaysians and English, who will be looking to stop him before he finds his rhythm.

The pressure factor has been acknowledged by former Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone, who feels the Indians have the potential to win medals if they could handle the pressure well enough.

"We have a fairly good chance but it will not be easy. Gopi and Aparna are the best medal prospects but they will have to contend with some top Malaysians," Padukone had said before the team flew out for Manchester.

"It depends on how the players gear themselves up and handle pressure and their mental make-up. They have to work hard and beat the best," Padukone said.

Women's top player Aparna Popat will also have a stiff run as she has to contend with Kelly Morgan of Wales, the reigning Commonwealth champion.

Popat had clinched the silver medal in the individual event in Kuala Lumpur, with Morgan putting an end to her gold-winning aspirations in the final. The Bangalore girl will be determined to avenge her defeat this time around.

The Indians have three other talented shuttlers in Abhinn Shyam Gupta, Nikhil Kanetkar and Sachin Ratti who, on their day, are quite capable of turning tables on fancied opponents.

The conditioning camp in Bangalore, where the shuttlers went through a rigorous training session under coaches Mohammad Arif and Leroy D'Sa, should help them improve their performance at the Games.

India will take part in all the seven badminton events, for which a total of 21 medals are at stake.

India, spearheaded by Padukone, had opened their gold medal account in the 1978 Commonwealth Games when the team won a gold and a bronze medal and followed it up with a lone gold in the 1982 edition.