Commonwealth Games 2018: Draws out for badminton - PV Sindhu vs Saina Nehwal final on the cards

The present World Number 3 PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal are set to take centre stage at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Both the Indian shuttlers have been given a first-round bye. The draws are such that the top seed Sindhu may face second seed Saina in the final.

There is a very high probability of this happening as both have been in tremendous form in the recent past with Saina having reached the finals of the Indonesia Masters 2018. Sindhu gave her best performance yet at the All England open by reaching the semifinals before losing to Yamaguchi in an intense match. 21-year-old Gadde Ruthvika Shivani has also got a bye but it is unlikely that the young shuttler will get past the round of 16.

In the men's singles category, first seed Kidambi Srikanth may face Malaysian superstar Lee Chong Wei in the final. If this happens, then it will certainly be a very intense battle between the present World No. 2 and the former World No. 1.

Meanwhile, third-seeded H.S. Prannoy has good chances of making it to the semifinals. If he makes it to the semifinal, then he will most likely face Chong Wei. If, just if he beats Chong Wei, in this match then there is also a high probability of an all Indian final in the men's singles category as well.

In the women's doubles category, Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponappa are seeded second. This will be an interesting pairing as it will bring the experience of Ashwini (who has played with Jwala Gutta in the past) and the young blood of Sikki on the court. The 23-year-old Sikki is also a left-handed player like Jwala. The first seeded pairing of Gabby Sommerville and Setyana Mapasa of Australia will have home advantage and are likely to meet the second-seeded Indian pair in the finals.

The men's doubles category has the dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty representing India. They have been seeded second and should ease their way to the finals where they are likely to meet Malaysia’s Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem. The Malaysian pair is seeded first and will be the favourites to win the title in this category.

The mixed doubles category will see the pairings of Sikki Reddy and Pranaav Jerry Chopra, Ashwini Ponappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy representing India. Of these, Sikki and Pranaav have got a bye, Ashwini and Rankireddy will face Guernsey's Chloe Le Tissier and Stuart Hardy in the initial round.