Gopichand banking on singles at Thomas and Uber Cup

New Delhi India might have an outside chance of making the quarterfinals of the World Mens Team Championship for the Thomas Cup but national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand today said his team could reach the last eight stage at the back of a strong singles performanceIndia have been slotted with Malaysia South Korea and Germany for the Thomas Cup to be held here from May 1825 Thomas and Uber Cup tie have three singles and two doubles matches We as a team are strong in singles that is where our strength liesI am hoping that we can pull off all three singles Our singles players are strong but when you compare it with a like Lee Chong Wei World No1 then yes we are not of the same level He is one exception but otherwise we have a good chance said Gopichand during a media interaction hereWe are good in singles but having said that we have had decent performances in the doubles and hopefully we might pull off one of the doubles and that is what I am banking on to make the quarterfinals he insistedGopichand however admitted that the players would have to play out of their skins against both Malaysia and Korea Its going to be tough against Malaysia and Korea Korea with their doubles players back or even without them it is going to be difficultAs far as doubles is concerned we have seen some good performances though we havent won anything big to say that we can beat Malaysia or Korea But against Germany we stand a good chance And even against Malaysia if we can play really well we have a good chance said the coachTalking about the strategy Gopichand said The best way forward against somebody like Korea would be to look at straight three singles While somebody like Malaysia we would look at two singles and one doubles Against Germany we can look at all three singles and also we have a chance in both the doublesTalking about the women Gopichand said they have a relatively easier group in the Uber Cup with Thailand Canada and Hong Kong We have a chance in second doubles as wellAlso in the third singles with PC Thulasi or Arundhati Pantawane we have a chance For the third singles they are not bad said the 40yearold Saina Nehwal will be spearheading the Indian challenge but she has not been in top form for almost more than a yearSpeaking about the areas where the London Olympic bronze medallist need to work on Gopichand said Overall every areas needs to be focused on It is a continuous process and every month and two months there is always a change of planGopichand said playing at home could be both an advantage or disadvantage and the players should be looking to gain the momentum Home court could be an advantage or disadvantage as the pressure works both ways In lot of the team matches momentum is important Hopefully we can get a good startUp in the first and second singles the pressure will be on the opponents But if your first two singles are down then it could be a disadvantage as well Its important that you start good If you can get a good win on the first day then your morale is high on the second and third day also said GopichandHe said Indian Badminton League IBL which was a team event has helped the players prepare for Thomas and Uber cup We are not expecting easy games Shuttlers have played as a team in the IBL and have faced pressure matches and that experience will be helpfulAll of them want to perform and do well How you go and perform on court matters at the end of the day How much you are able to control your nerves and how much you want to push and not feel the pressure at the court is what is important All of them are very serious and focussed concluded Gopichand