India may bag Olympic medal: Padukone

Mumbai, July 21 (UNI) Badminton ace Prakash Padukone today expressed hope that Indian shuttlers Anup Sridhar and Saina Nehwal may pick up a medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, beginning next month.

Speaking at the launch of the first Tata Open All India Badminton Tournament here today, Prakash said, ''It will be difficult, there is no doubt about it, but with a favourable draw, we might just pick up a medal in the Olympics.

''Luckily the Olympics is a 32 man draw, and therefore, if you get a good draw and then you can beat a couple of good players, then you never know, you can be in the semis,'' he said.

Padukone also played down the injury which Beijing bound Anup Sridhar suffered last Saturday. He said that it was only an ankle sprain and he should be alright within four to five days. ''Luckily there is no bone damage and it only requires the tissues to be strengthened and he will be fine.'' UNI GS RN AB KN1748