'Gymnasts will win three medals'

Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist Ashish Kumar is hopeful that gymnastics can fetch India three medals in this edition of CWG in Glasgow starting Wednesday.

Ashish, who bagged silver and a bronze in the men’s floor exercises and vault in the 2010 CWG in Delhi, hopes to convert those into gold when he takes to the floor in Scotland.

“In the events that got me silver and a bronze respectively, I will try to convert them into two gold medals. Dipa Karmakar is also a medal hopeful in the women’s draw. So, in total, my assessment would be three medals from gymnastics. But you never know in sport,” Ashish told PTI on the eve of his departure.

Ashish, who won India their first gymnastic medal in Delhi CWG, rues the lack of international exposure for the national team in the run-up to this edition.

“We just got international exposure in the form of Commonwealth Gymnastic Championship in Perth this year where we bagged 3 gold, 3 silver and a bronze. We got to compete in just one tournament in 2013 and were idle for nearly six months. 2012 was a blank in terms of a tournament and no camp as well.

“So after the 2010 Asian and CWG medals we have been lying low because of lack of opportunities. Our confidence did take a hit because of all these things but still we are hopeful,” said a disappointed Ashish.