Saina’s threat to pull out pays off
and table tennis.
Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu and London bronze medallist Saina Nehwal will lead the charge in women’s singles while World No. 2 Srikanth Kidambi and HS Prannoy look favourites for badminton gold despite the presence of old warhorse Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.
Sindhu and Srikanth were given the top billing on Tuesday.
In boxing, India’s hopes rest on MC Mary Kom, Pinki Jhangra, Sarita Devi in women’s section while Manoj Kumar and Vikas Krishan would be favourites in men’s section.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu looks certain to win a medal in women’s 48 kg while in wrestling, all hopes rest on double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Bajrang in men’s section whereas Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Babita are fancied in women’s section.
So, it is likely that some very happy faces will leave Australian shores when Gold Coast 2018 comes to an end on April 15. GOLDCOAST: Saina Nehwal’s father Harvir Singh has been accommodated in the Commonwealth Games Village after the shuttler had allegedly threatened to pull out of the event in a mail written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
Saina had, in a series of tweets, earlier claimed that his name had been removed from the Indian team officials’ list for the Commonwealth Games.
A tweet posted by a senior journalist on Tuesday showed a mail allegedly sent by Saina to the IOA, in which she threatened not to play her matches if her father’s accreditation was not cleared.
Earlier in the day, the IOA had responded to Saina’s post with a tweet, explaining t hat her father’s name had been included in the list for extra-official but payment for which does not include stay at CWG village.
“Dear @Nsaina , Mr. Harvir Singh is an accredited Extra Official! As stated in the CDM Manual of Gold Coast 2018 CWG and repeatedly conveyed to BAI, the payment for accreditation of Extra Official does not include bed in the Games Village,” IOA’S tweet read.
Attached with it was a picture of an official document that clarified ‘The ETO service charge for an extra Team Official does not include a travel grant or bed in the CGV.’
Saina’s tweet also elicited a response from Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, who wrote, “Am sure as a member of the @olympics Athletes committee you are well aware of accreditation protocols. Wishing you all the best for the CWG.”
Jwala Gutta too was critical of Saina’s threat to withdraw. “Hmmm..my family always paid for tickets n stayed in hotels...i have no idea what’s being promised n what’s the demand?? But for the games when u know dates long before the team leaves..isn’t it better to book n plan in advance? Threatening not (to) play..is it correct??
The Sports Ministry had cleared Saina’s father alongside PV Sindhu’s mother to travel with the Indian contingent at no cost to the government.