Ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap, who finished with a bronze at the Delhi Commonwealth Games four years ago, says he is targeting a gold medal in the men’s singles and hopes lady luck will be on his side during the Glasgow edition.
“Gold is a realistic target. With (World No. 1 shuttler) Lee Chong Wei withdrawing, it has opened up the tournament. I am the second seed and I know I can win the gold,” Kashyap said.
“However, it is not going to be easy as we have players like Wei Feng Chong and Rajiv Ouseph,” he added.
The 2012 London Olympics quarter-finalist said K Srikanth and RMV Gurusaidutt also have bright chances of bagging medals.
“Both Srikanth and Gurusaidutt also have a good chance to win. Both have done well and have nothing to lose. Something which was my case four years back.
Kashyap said he hoped to see himself and his colleagues give their best ever performance at the July 23-August 3 event.
Good medal prospects
“We won four medals four years ago and I hope this time it turns out to be our best ever Commonwealth Games. We have (P V) Sindhu in women’s singles, me and K Srikanth, too, have a bright chance of winning medals in men’s singles…
“Also Jwala and Ashwini should get a medal in women’s doubles. It will be difficult in men’s and mixed doubles but if they can pull off nothing better,” said Kashyap.
Talking about his form and fitness, Kashyap said, “It has been a difficult year for me with my shoulder troubling me. But now it has stabilised. I am still tapping it but it doesn’t bother me. I am comfortable.
Kashyap has been leading the men’s singles ever since the Commonwealth Games bronze and he said it has not been easy.
“In 2010, Chetan (Anand) was India’s No. 1, while me and Anup were in the 20s and 30s and so it was extremely happy moment for me when I won the bronze,” said Kashyap, who bagged the 2012 Syed Modi International India Grand Prix Gold.
“In the next two years, I broke into the top 10 and I have been inside top 20 for five years now. It’s not easy. But I have to work harder. I want to be back in the top 10 by this year end,” he signed off.
