Commonwealth Games 2018: 5 Indian players who can bring more than one medal

As the countdown for the 2018 Commonwealth Games underway, India has over a couple of hundred athletes travelling down to Gold Coast to represent the nation, where seventy countries from across the globe will be battling it out in the multiple categories of sports events. Instilled with talent in an abundance, the Indian contingent sure has hopes and support as high as the sky upon their shoulders to bring back a bunch of medals from the land down under.

Here is a list of the top five athletes who could bag more than one medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018.

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#5 Kidambi Srikanth, Badminton (April 12, 2018)

Srikanth at the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals

After clinching an unprecedented four Superseries titles last year, the 25-year-old has had nothing short of a dream run through 2017 as he achieved back to back successful feats.

With a nail-biter of a qualification into the quarterfinals of the men’s singles event at the Rio Olympics, Sriki slayed through 2017 – winning the Indonesian Open, the Australian Open, the French Open as well as the Denmark Open, which resulted in his name moving up to the second spot on the BWF men’s singles ranking charts.

Additionally, the shuttler made it to the Singapore Open Finale, where he lost out to fellow Indian badminton player Sai Praneeth in a first instance where two Indians faced each other during a finale of a Superseries event. Later last year, Kidambi was the runner-up at the National Badminton Championships and has continuously made swift advances in the world of badminton. Taking a look at the Indian contingent, there are a bunch of names that could return home with more than one medal around their necks.

He will have his eyes set on outdoing his fellow countryman Parupalli Kashyap (who bagged a gold at the 2014 CWG), in Gold Coast. Ahead of his event that is to be held on the 12th of this month, India's top shuttler will be aiming to register a few medals under his name at the Games this year.

#4 Jitu Rai, Shooting (April 9 & 11, 2018)

Jitu Rai at the Rio Olympics

Shooting will be one event in which the Indians will look to capitalize the maximum, courtesy the serious amount of lineage our contingent consists of.

Having won over fifty medals in shooting events, Jitu Rai will be India’s brightest ray of hope at bringing home the gold. The Lucknow born gunman will be taking part in the 50m pistol and 10m air pistol events to be held on the 9th and 11th of April respectively.

Being one of the highly experienced shooters of the Indian contingent, Jitu will be determined to rectify his errors from the 2016 Rio Olympics and will be eyeing to go big at the Gold Coast Games. The 30-year-old won four golds and a bronze at the ISSF events along with another couple of bronze medals at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships.

#3 Sakshi Malik, Wrestling (April 14, 2018)

Sakshi Malik representing the country at the Rio Olympics

After getting a silver in the bag at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Malik made her arrival on the international scene in some style. A couple of years later, she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in a wrestling event, following her bronze win at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The entire country’s hopes are reliant on Sakshi as far as the wrestling event is concerned. Having won a gold at the Commonwealth World Championships, the 25-year-old will be aiming to make her mark for India during her event on the 14th of April at Gold Coast.

#2 Neeraj Chopra, Javelin (April 10, 2018)

Neeraj flaunting his record at the IAAF World U20 Championships

Neeraj has been training under the former world record holder, Uwe Hohn, and is regarded as one of the top prospects from the Indian contingent to win big at the 2018 CWG.

The 20-year-old bagged a gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championship last year, as he broke the men’s javelin record with an effort of 86.48m.

At the Asian Grand Prix held in China, Chopra won a silver medal at the IAFF World Championships but sadly couldn’t make it to the finals.

Being the junior world record holder at present, the Panipat local has a lot of expectations hanging on his shoulders not only from his supporters but also from top athletes from around the world who have given him the tag of a “once in a lifetime” javelin thrower.

#1 PV Sindhu, Badminton (April 12, 2018)

PV Sindhu celebrating her win at the 2016 Olympics in Rio

Bearing the nation’s tricolour upon her shoulders, Sindhu will have a lot more than a flag pinned on her shoulders in the form of hopes and expectations to win big. Being an overwhelming favourite not just among the fans, PV Sindhu has the overwhelming optimism of the Indian authorities as well.

After a defeat at the semi-finals of the All-England Championships being considered a poor result from the Indian shuttler, she sure will be the favourite to bag a gold and more at the 2018 CWG.

Her prime test would be anticipated to come while facing the likes of Michelle Li and Kristy Glamour who have both been in ace form after winning a gold and silver medal respectively during the Glasgow Games back in 2014.

Though PV won a bronze in the same contest, she will be eyeing a minimum of one gold if not more, this year at the Commonwealth Games. Her growth over the last few years has been significant and even includes a silver from the 2016 Olympics, confirming the title of the ‘Queen of Badminton’ given to her by her fans and the media.