Rio Olympics 2016: 5 dark horses who can get India a medal

#5 Kidambi Srikanth

Kidambi Srikanth not only aspires an Olympic Gold but also number 1 rank

One of the seven shuttlers who will be travelling to Rio with hopes and expectations, Kidambi Srikanth will have his first experience of Olympics in 2016. The 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength since bagging Silver in 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man and became only the third Indian man last year to enter the top 5 in world badminton rankings after Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand.

Srikanth became the first Indian male to win gold at the 2015 Swiss Open Grand Prix gold and followed it up with another stupendous performance when he clinched the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships Grand Prix Gold title in January next year. Srikanth is currently ranked 13 and has learned his game under the tutelage of his idol Pullela Gopichand. While, hopes for a gold rest majorly on Saina Nehwal’s shoulders, one would be foolish to rule out Srikanth’s chances.