Magazine : 
Hopes High From Indian Shuttlers at Commonwealth Games
GLASGOW: With defending champion Saina Nehwal skipping the 20th Commonwealth Games, India will be pinning their hopes on P.V. Sindhu, Parupalli Kashyap and the pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa to repeat their success in badminton that they achieved four years ago at home.
India has had four golds at CWG till date, the last two coming from Saina and Jwala/Ashwini at the 2010 edition in Delhi. Prakash Padukone had won the men's singles medal in 1978 which India retained through Syed Modi four years later.
Despite top seed Saina's absence from women's singles, India could still end up victorious in the category, thanks to second seed Sindhu.
When Saina faltered at last year’s World Championships in China, it was left to Sindhu to secure the honours and she did, winning the bronze. Again here, it would be no different as the tenacious 19-year-old is now the highest-ranked player in the tournament following her compatriot’s withdrawal from the event.
This time, Sindhu, ranked four places below Saina at No.11, was viewed as her toughest rival. The latter may now breathe a little easier as she contemplates her path to glory.
Her main challengers are third seed Kirsty Gilmour, who will attempt to become the first Scot to win the women’s singles title and Canadian fourth seed Michelle Li. Others expected to perform well are Malaysian fifth seed Tee Jing Yi and sixth seed P.C. Thulasi of India.
Meanwhile in men’s singles, in the absence of Malaysia's two-time defending champion and World No.1 Lee Chong Wei, compatriot and the other 'Chong Wei' Feng will lead the challenge as the No.1 seed.
READ MORE: READ MORE: After Women, Delhi Is The Most Unsafe For Children
