Great expectations from Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal leads India’s best-ever all-round badminton team in a campaign that’s expected to fetch the host nation half-a-dozen medals. No Indian team of shuttlers has dominated any Commonwealth Games, but such is the quality of this squad that they are strong challengers for each of the six events in the sport.

The Hyderabadi has become the face of Indian badminton in recent times and her confidence has rubbed off on the others. If the team now carries an air of success about it, a lot of the credit can go to Saina, who in a stirring run this year, won three major titles in as many weeks. As teammate P Kashyap said: “All credit to Saina. She’s raised the bar for us, so much that even reaching the semis of a Super Series isn’t considered that great any more.”

The Commonwealth competition in badminton is nowhere close to either the Super Series or even the Asian Games. Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo and Susan Egelstaff of Wales are the only ones expected to register on the radar — and if Saina were to win the gold and inspire a team triumph, its value would chiefly lie in establishing India as a powerhouse in the Commonwealth — something it has not managed to do yet. Padukone’s gold in 1978 and Aparna Popat and Gopichand’s heroics of 1998 lifted the scale of Indian badminton; if the Indians can win the team title, it will be a landmark in their history.

A lot of the change happened over the last four years. When Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas nailed the bronze medal playoff at the last CWG, a subtle shift had occurred. The win might not be popularly remembered, but as Rupesh puts it: “Earlier, we were considered just another team. After the Commonwealth bronze, we were suddenly in a bigger league.”

The bronze in the Commonwealth — won through doubles specialists and not singles players taking on doubles duty — symbolised newly-acquired depth. As the 2010 version comes up, the Indians look as impressive as their principal competitors — Malaysia and England — for the team title.

In the men’s singles, world No.1 Lee Chong Wei is the overwhelming favourite, and neither of the two Indians — Chetan Anand and P Kashyap — are expected to trouble him. The dark horse is England’s Rajiv Ouseph, who might give Chong Wei some anxious moments if they have a face-off.

All three Indian doubles pairs can win a medal, with Diju/Jwala favourites for a gold — but much depends on whether Diju’s back holds up. The wiry Indian has had a few problems with his back in training. Jwala and Ashwini Ponnappa similarly are in contention for a medal, with the toughest competition coming from world No.6 Wong Pei Ty/Chin Eei Hui (Mas), world No.10 Sari/Yao Lei (Sing) and No.23 Wallwork/White (Eng). Rupesh and Sanave will find it tougher, given that world No.1 Malaysians, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, are in the fray.

The Indian team matured into world class pairs over the last three years, taking advantage of the competitions they were sent to as part of the CWG preparation programme.

Indian doubles players haven’t received the credit they were due, but perhaps winning in front of an expectant crowd will change that. “Nothing changed on the personal front despite our victories,” said Rupesh. “We didn’t get recognition or anything else — it was just about personal satisfaction. The CWG bronze gave us plenty of confidence; it made us feel as good as the others because the ones we beat were world No.7. I’d say we have an outstanding chance for gold in the team event; it’s not like 10 years ago when the doubles was weak. This is the most balanced team I’ve been part of.”