India will win at least 3 medals at Commonwealth Games: Jwala

With Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu going great guns, India would surely get a minimum of three medals in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, asserted country’s No 1 doubles specialist Jwala Gutta.

India had bagged four medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the doubles defending champion in an interview to PTI said she would not be playing mixed category in which she had won a silver in the team event.

“We will win at least three from badminton, I am not playing the mixed doubles. I am thinking the women’s singles and doubles will do well.

“In doubles it would be tough. But in singles there’s not much competition. I am hoping that Saina-Sindhu reach final.

Even in rankings, I think there’s nobody except Saina and Sindhu, but in doubles you have Malaysians, the English and also the Singaporeans,” Jwala told PTI on the sidelines of a promotional programme here.

Jwala further said her doubles partner Ashwini Ponnappa with whom she would be defending their doubles title at the Glasgow, was one of the best players in the world.

“Ashwini is one of the best players in the world. She’s famous for her hard smashes, I am lucky to play with her.”

Asked whether it would be tougher than the last time, Jwala said, “Why do you think it would be different? It does not matter, we have done outside India as well. We have won outside India as well. For us every tournament is just a tournament. I always enjoyed playing in different places. I don’t take pressure.”

“We played well at the Thomas Uber Cup, we did well in Japan and Indonesia in the run up to the commonwealth games. We are in the right track,” Jwala said of the Indian badminton team who leave for Glasgow on July 19 with their competition beginning on July 24 and summit clash on August 3.

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