Parupalli Kashyap makes history: wins men’s singles gold at Common Wealth Games

27-year-old Parupalli Kashyap from Hyderabad on Sunday became the first Indian male shuttler in 32 years of Indian history to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games 2014 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

He was a bronze-medallist at the last edition of Delhi Games. He triumphed 21-14 11-21 21-19 against Derek Wong in the final showdown. Prakaah now joined the likes of legends Prakash Padukone and the late Syed Modi. Prakash had won the men’s singles gold medal at Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1978 and in subsequent edition, Modi won it.

Kashyap, currently World No. 22 has bagged the biggest title of his career after reaching the quarterfinals of the London Olympics and winning the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold in 2012.

Derek Wong of Singapore was a tricky and immaculate player who made a come back in the first set gathering four straight points when Kashyap was leading by 14-8. But Kashyap was soon back in game to reach 18-12. Soon he garnered seven game points, Wong saved one but Kashyap wrapped it up with another.

Wong was the one to lead in second set with 11—6 at the interval. With many unforced errors from Kashyap, Wong was soon 15—8 and later won the set. In the decider set both the players upped their game and Kashyap at 13-11, the Kashyap won a long aggresive rally. Kashyap soon drew level at 14-14 and surged later to move to 19-16 finally bursting into celebration on winning the set.

Kashyap was so elated that he celebrated by taking off his shirt and waving the crowd. On whole India finished fifth on medals tally taking 15 Gold, 30 Silver and 19 Bronze, a total of 64 medals. The first five teams are England, Australia, Canada and Scotland.