Which are Badminton, Squash and Table Tennis, if you were wondering. And yes, I know some people say it that the thing you use in table tennis is a paddle. But I don’t subscribe to that position, so there. It’s a bat. Also, cricket is not included in bat sports; it was in the team sports preview. Those are the rules that…I just made up.
Anyway, onto the sports themselves. Badminton should be something of a battle royal between Malaysia and India, who could easily split all the gold medals between them. On the women’s side, PV Sindhu is a sporting icon in India. It was reported a couple of years ago that her marketing endorsements earned her an amount that was second only to Vihrat Kolhi, India’s cricket captain at the time, which should give you an idea of her popularity. And she backs that popularity up with her performance on the court – a world champion with multiple medals at the Olympics. She’ll be hoping to earn a gold medal here in the women’s singles, which would complete the set of Commonwealth medals for her following bronze in Glasgow and silver on the Gold Coast.
A few years ago, Malaysia would also have been in the running for being the top nation in squash as well, with the imperious Nicol David leading the charge. Now, that position is probably filled by New Zealand, who enter these games boasting the number 1 seeds on both the men’s and women’s sides, in Paul Coll and Joelle King. Look for the pair to also team up in a formindable mixed double team as well. The prospect for a good showing by the home nations also remains, with England, Scotland and Wales all having realistic medal shots in the event.
Finally, we have table tennis. Singapore have usually been the dominant force in this event, led by the multi-medal winning Gao Ning, who boasts 9 Commonwealth medals over the last 3 editions of the Games). Led by the great Feng Tianwei they will still be favourites to win several medals but perhaps not as overwhelming favourites as in previous years. Expect India to do well here also, and don’t overlook the prospects of Nigeria who have a rich tradition in this event, especially at the Commonwealth Games.
Ian's World Of Sports 