Jwala Gutta, V Diju are an exceptional combination: Pullela Gopichand

Saina is obviously the favourite in the women’s section but there are players from Malaysia, Singapore and England who can challenge her. It depends on the given day how focussed she is.

In the mixed team event our strength lies in the women’s singles, mixed doubles and the men’s doubles. I won’t rule out our chances in the team event but Malaysia look the strongest.

India, England and Singapore are at same level below them. I’m hopeful that we will return with our best-ever haul in the Games.

Everybody from the Indian team will have a chance depending on how focussed they are. After a couple of years when you look back, what will matter is whether you won a medal or not in Delhi and the rest will be secondary. Playing in front of home crowds will be an advantage but to win, you have to play
at your best.

I think Jwala Gutta and V Diju are an exceptional combination and the way they complement each other on the court is amazing. I am expecting a much better haul of medals in Delhi this time compared to the 2006 Melbourne Games.

Talking about my memories related to the Games, my first participation in the multi-country, multi-discipline event was at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998. The Olympics, Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games are unique in their own ways and cannot be compared.
The Kuala Lumpur Games were very special for me. I was one of the top players from the country and we had lot of junior players around. We had a very good team spirit going around and we ended up winning silver in the men’s team event.

We were never that strong as a team in any of the previous Games and it was the first time we had won any kind of a medal in a team event. We beat England in the semifinals but lost to Malaysia in the final, who are always a tough team to beat.

I ended with a men’s singles bronze medal, which was a very satisfying result for me as I had just recovered from an injury before the Games. I would rate it as one of the best of my career.

Staying at the Games village was lot of fun as it was my first time to be a part of it. Sharing a flat with 7-8 people and occasionally bumping into some top players in the cafeteria was a totally different experience and it all added to the atmosphere of the Games.

Even though I had just made a comeback and was not 100 per cent for the 2002 Manchester Games, it was disappointing to be knocked out in the quarterfinals.
—As told to Rajesh Pansare