Pullela Gopichand, Chief national badminton coach believes India has a golden opportunity to go beyond the six medals won by India in London Olympics 2012 and get a double-digit tally this time. “I do believe that this time around, we would have, hopefully, India’s biggest medal tally till now. We could surpass what the Indian team did in London which is six medals and hopefully get to double digit is what I am hoping for,” Gopichand said while speaking at a webinar. 

India has sent its biggest Olympics contingent ever this time which consists of more than 120 athletes competing in 18 sporting events. The Olympics is scheduled to begin on July 23 and will be played in the absence of any spectators. Some of the prominent athletes whom the entire nation will be looking at are archer Deepika Kumari, weightlifter Mirabai Chani, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, boxer Mary Kom, badminton player PV Sindhu to name a few.

Gopichand added, “Because there has been a lot of support and help from the government and I just wish that with that kind of a support, which we have got, I think getting more medals strengthens the hands of the people related to sports.

“I do believe that whether it is shooting, wrestling, boxing or Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting, I think they have a lot of chances.”

Talking about the chances of the badminton contingent, Gopichand who has mentored Saina Nehwal (London Olympics silver medalist) and PV Sindhu (Rio Olympics silver medalist) felt that Sindhu has a good chance of going one step further this time. 

“In badminton, we have chances, definitely to better what we did in Rio and London. So I am hoping that Sindhu can pull off, she is definitely going to be one of the favourites in the Olympics with the venue as well.”

“And also Chirag and Satwik, although, have a tough draw but I do see them as potential hopefuls for a medal. For Sai Praneeth, it is going to be tough. But he has done well at the World Championships and I hope he can repeat that performance.”