Kashyap Parupalli First Male Shuttler In 32 Years To Win Gold At CWG

Hyderabadi Parupalli Kashyap on Sunday etched his name firmly in the history books by becoming the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.  After a bronze-medal at the Delhi Games, Kashyap went all the way this time in a nerve-wracking and breath-taking 21-14, 11-21, 21-19 triumph against Derek Wong of Singapore in the final showdown which lasted for well over an hour. 

After one hour of the game, Kashyap finally reached the finish line, winning the third game 21-19 and with it the match. He immediately embarked on a passionate celebration, taking off his shirt and getting loud. He then rushed towards his mentor Pullela Gopichand, the man behind many of his victories, like this.

The 27-year-old World No. 22 joined badminton legend Prakash Padukone and the late Syed Modi, who had won the title in the past. While Padukone had won the men’s singles gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Canada, Modi retained it four years later. This is the biggest title of Kashyap’s career. He had reached the quarterfinals of the London Olympics and won the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold in 2012. 

Telangana Chief Minister KCR congratulated shuttler Parupalli Kashyap for winning a gold medal for India in the Commonwealth Games.

The chief minister, in a congratulatory message, expressed his wish that Hyderabad-born Kashyap wins more events in future and bring laurels to the nation.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, also conveyed his hope that under Pullela Gopichand’s training at the Gopichand Badminton Academy, many more players of Kashyap’s calibre would grow in future to bring name and fame to Telangana and the country.

Telangana State Badminton Association President KT Rama Rao congratulated Kashyap on winning the gold. He also congratulated Jwala Gutta and Ashwini for their Silver and PV Sindhu for her bronze.