The Hindu : Gopi Chand to lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 23, 2002

Sport

Sport - Badminton

Gopi Chand to lead

HYDERABAD MAY 22. P. Gopi Chand will lead the 16-member Indian team (including two coaches) for the badminton tournament of the Commonwealth Games to be held at Manchester from July 25 to August 4.

Seven men and seven women players have been selected to represent India for the Games. The list signed by Mr. L.C. Gupta, Secretary BAI, was released to the media at a press conference addressed by Mr. Dinesh Khanna, government observer, in the presence of Mr. Gupta, Vimal Kumar, member selection committee, and S.M. Arif, chief national coach, here on Wednesday.

The players selected were P. Gopi Chand (captain), Abhinn Shyam Gupta, Nikhil Kanetkar, Sachin Ratti, V. Diju, Sanave Thomas and Markose Bristow (men) and Aparna Popat, B.R. Meenakshi, T. Murgunde, Ch. Deepthi, G. Jwala, Shruti Kurien and Neelima Chaudary. Mr. S.M. Arif and Mr. L. D'Sa will be the coaches.

Ten men and ten women were called for the camp. Those who were not included in the team are Arvind Bhat, Jassil Ismail and Jason Xavier (men) and Manjusha Kanwar, P.V.V. Lakshmi and Shweta (women).

In the Commonwealth Games there will be only combined team championship and not separate championships for men and women. In this format each tie will consist of five matches, which will include one men's singles, one women's singles, one men's doubles, one women's doubles and one mixed doubles.

V. Diju and Sanave Thomas will play in the men's doubles while G. Jwala and Shruti Kurien will play in the women's doubles. In the mixed doubles Markose Bristow will pair up with either Neelima Chaudary or B.R. Meenakshi.

Speaking about the selection process Mr. Khanna said that the camp, held in Hyderabad since May 15, had provided the selectors with a chance to watch the players again from close quarters before coming to their decision.

"This type of format certainly suits England which is very strong in pairs events. Malaysia is also a strong team at the Games while Singapore and Canada will also be very strong contenders. So we will have to fight it out. We hope to get a medal but of what hue that we will have to wait and watch,'' said Mr. Khanna. "Of course in the singles events Gopi Chand is our main hope but he will have strong challenge from the Malaysian players,'' Mr. Khanna added.

Mr. Gupta said that seven players in each category was the maximum that any country could field and since the ties will feature three doubles matches and two singles, a lot of attention would have to be given to the performance of the doubles pairs.

Mr. Arif speaking about the camp, which was held in Hyderabad, said that it was very important because it had given the players and coaches plenty of time to prepare. In the next camp the focus will be on technique he said.

It was also disclosed that India would send a contingent for the Malaysian Open, which will be held at Kuala Lumpur from June 25. Those who will take part in the Malaysian Open are Gopi Chand, Abhinn Shyam Gupta, Nikhil Kanetkar, Sachin Ratti, V. Diju, S. Thomas, Jason Xavier, Jassil Ismail and Arvind Bhat (men) and Aparna Popat (women).

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