Badminton in 2010 Commonwealth Games

Badminton was first introduced in Commonwealth Games of 1966, held in Kingston, Jamaica. It is a core sporting event including both male and female participants. The 2006 Commonwealth Games which were held in Melbourne in Australia witnessed participation of 20 countries in badminton events.The 2010 Commonwealth Games will take place in New Delhi from 3rd October to 14th October.

Logo for Badminton in CWG

According to medals tally, England leads with maximum number of medals in badminton. England has won a total of 93 medals which comprise of 34 gold, 27 silver and 32 bronze medals. Malaysia ranks second with 51 medals which include 20 gold, 19 silver and 12 bronze medals.

India ranks fourth with a tally of 11 medals to its kitty which comprise of 2 gold, 2 silver and 7 bronze. Prakash Padukone was the first Indian to win a gold medal in badminton in Commonwealth Games in 1978 (Edmonton) and Syed Modi was the second and the last shuttler to win gold in 1982 (Brisbane).

In 2010 Commonwealth Games, badminton will have six events that will include men’s Single, women’s Single, men’s Double, women’s Double, mixed Doubles and Team mixed. Planning has never been an issue in Indian sports but, implementation has been, so to overcome this problem the Indian badminton squad began its preparation just after the 2006, Melbourne commonwealth Games with the aim of winning all the gold medals at Delhi Commonwealth Games. The probable badminton Squad for this season of Commonwealth Games is much more confident and holds quality players who are expected to bring laurels to our country.

Saina Nehwal

There are more than 30 probable for 2010 Commonwealth Games’ badminton squad. Saina Nehwal is the most promising player, as her phenomenal rise in world badminton has been incredible and is expected to break the 28-year old jinx. The world Rank 2, Saina’s rise began during the 2006, Melbourne Games when Coach Vimal Kumar chose Saina as the top singles player against Singapore in the bronze medal match as a substitute to Aparna Popat. Though this decision came as a shock to most of them but Saina managed to win a bronze for India, eventually, defeating higher ranked players. The absence of the formidable Chinese, Indonesians and the Danes will make the job easier for Saina. The 20-year-old’s main and perhaps the only rival is Mew Choo Wong of Malaysia. Saina enjoys a better record against Mew and is expected to beat her for the title.

The next bet is the mixed doubles pair of V Diju and Jwala Gutta. The duo would be the top-ranked team at the CWG and is expected to finish on top. There is hope for the Indians in the team events too. India has a fair chance to win women’s singles and mixed doubles, for team events Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa form a great pair for women’s doubles. Malaysia is supposed to be the main rivals for the hosts in team event.

Lee Chong Wee

In the men’s section, Chetan Anand and Parupalli Kashyap, who are likely to be included in the badminton squad, can finish on the podium.World No.1 Lee Chong Wei is expected to take the field and will be the man to beat. However, Wei has a habit of crashing out in the early rounds to little known opponents. Indians will surely pray for this to happen.

In Commonwealth Games Junior squad for Badminton, HS Prannoy,who recently won a silver at Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, Sai Praneeth and PV Sindhu are some of the promising players who might earn India gold medals and may come out victorious.

The events for badminton will take place at Siri Fort Sports Complex and will be held from 4^th to 8^th October, 2010 and from 9^th to 14^th October, 2010. Maximum entry for both male and female participants is 5.

With 18 medals at stake including 6 gold, Badminton is surely an event to be look forward in Commonwealth Games this season.