Ace Indian shuttlers Parupalli Kashyap and PV Sindhu, after falling just short of clinching a medal in the mixed team event of the Commonwealth Games 2014, will be looking for a flying start in the singles competition at the Emirates Arena on Wednesday.
Kashyap seems to have found his lost touch in the team event by providing India winning starts. The second-seeded Kashyap will open his campaign against Barbados' Dakeil Thorpe, who registered an easy victory in his last match.
The Indian ace is unlikely to face too many problems, before the semifinal, but with his flagging form this season anything is possible. The 27-year-old is a gold medal prospect for India in the multisport event, after Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei pulled out of the competition.
"Gold is a realistic target," Kashyap said. "With Lee Chong Wei withdrawing, it has opened up the tournament. I am the second seed and I know I can win the gold."
Sindhu will open her campaign against Sandra Le Grange of South Africa and it should be an easy outing for the 11th-ranked shuttler against a player that is currently in 225th position in the BWF Rankings.
The top-seeded Sindhu is among the favourites to clinch the gold medal in the Glasgow Games, after the withdrawal of defending champion and compatriot Saina Nehwal.
The doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will be taking court today as well against Kirgizstan's Tinabora Tekeiaki and Teitiria Utimawa.
The defending champions will want to repeat their heroics of the 2010 CWG and increase India's medal tally.
RMV Gurusaidutt and Kidambi Srikanth will also be in action in the singles events after winning their respective Round of 64 matches.
Gurusaidutt had an easy outing against Benjamin Pui Hun Li, defeating his opponent 21-5, 21-12 in 24 minutes, while Srikanth took just 15 minutes in outclassing Duane March 21-3, 21-4.
PC Thulasi will face Northern Ireland's Sinead Chambers, while the pair of Pranaav Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar will lock horns with Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Dullewa of Sri Lanka.
Schedule of Play: Round of 32
Women's Singles: PC Thulasi vs Sinead Chambers starts 1:30 pm IST
Men's Singles: RV Gurusaidutt vs E Ekiring starts 3:30 pm IST
Men's Singles: Kidambi Srikanth vs Daniel Font starts 3:30 pm IST
Men's Singles: Parupalli Kashyap vs Dakeil Thorpe starts 3:30 pm IST
Women's Singles: PV Sindhu vs Sandra le Grange starts 5:00 pm IST
Men's Doubles: Chopra/Dewalkar vs Dias/Dullewa starts 5:30 pm IST
Women's Doubles: Gutta/Ponnappa vs Tekeiaki/Utimawa starts 10:00 pm IST
Where to Watch Live:
The badminton action is scheduled for a 9:00 am local time (1:30 pm IST) start with live coverage in India is on Ten Sports and Ten Action, with the live streaming option HERE and HERE. The action will be available live on CBS Sports in Canada with online streaming option HERE.
BBC will telecast the games live in the United Kingdom, with live streaming option HERE or follow the updates HERE. Network Ten will broadcast the Commonwealth Games live in Australia with an online viewing option HERE. For International viewers, including the United States, the action will be available live on official Commonwealth Games 2014 YouTube channel for free HERE.
