Asian medal tough but not impossible: Gopichand

Kolkata, Nov 10 (UNI) Former All England Badminton Champion Pullela Gopichand today said India could produce some upset wins during the Doha Asian Games.

Talking to reporters during his sojourn to the city, Gopichand said getting a medal in the Asian Games is a tough proposition.

Countries like China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea have top rank players in the world, but we have good players too, he said.

'' Chetan Anand, Anup Sreedhar, Shaina Newal are all really good.

Talking about Saina's prospects, he said '' She is backed by the Mittal Trust and so she will get everything that she needs.'' On the lack of sponsors in Badminton, he said, '' It's a vicious circle, money comes from popularity and vice versa.'' He further said fragmentation in the sports organisation also affected the progress of the game.

He stressed on the need of more exposure and quality foreign coaches along with the Indians for these budding players.

Talking about his recent visit to China, he said he was surpised to find that 14 year old kids stay in the residential badminton camps all the year round and go home only for a month.

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