Injury layoff set to end Parupalli Kashyap's 2016 Rio Olympic dream

This is a big blow for the promising shuttler.

New Delhi: Still grappling with a knee injury, Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning shuttler P Kashyap's chances of qualifying for the Olympics have all but ended as he has been forced to withdraw from this month's Malaysia Super Series Premier and Singapore Open. 

Going through the worst injury phase of his career, Kashyap had hoped to recover in time to compete in Malaysia and Singapore and give Olympic qualification a shot but now it seems a far cry. "No tournaments for me the whole month. Actually the injury was bad. I just feel the first diagnosis was not right. The first guy told me that I was going to be okay in two weeks time which was not the case," Kashyap said. 

"I was expecting myself to play in two weeks so there is disappointment and irritation." Currently ranked world No.17, Kashyap needs to be in top-16 to make the Olympic draw but the injury lay-off is set to cost him valuable ranking points. 

"I wouldn't blame anyone because everyone wants me to play and get back quickly. They want me to stay in shape and mentally be ready," he said. The previous year, Kashyap had lost in the second round of India Super series and Malaysia Super Series Premier but had reached the semifinals in Singapore. 

Asked about future events, Kashyap, who retired hurt midway through the German Open pre-quarterfinals, said: "The current status is that I have to wait another 3 weeks and then assess how it is. I might play next in May or June." 

Once the World No.8, Kashyap had suffered a calf muscle tear in October last year. He then sustained an abdominal strain and failed to defend his Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold title. The Hyderabad shuttler also missed the South Asian Games and then hoping to qualify for Olympics, he was back on the court at German Open but there was no respite for him. 

Meanwhile, Indian pair of Vineeth Manuel and S Sanjeeth lost to local combo of Darren Isaac Devadass and Jinn Hwa Tan 15-21 12-21 in the qualifiers of Malaysia Open. Top shuttlers Saina Nehwal, K Srikanth, P V Sindhu, H S Prannoy will start their campaign in the main draw at Shah Alam on Wednesday.