Glasgow: A silver-medallist from the previous edition, Ashish Kumar would once again be India's biggest hope for a podium finish in gymnastics when the artistic routines begin on Monday at the Commonwealth Games.
Ashish, who won a silver in the floor exercises and bronze in the vault event of the 2010 edition in Delhi, is hoping to improve the colour of his medal and climb the podium this time around.
"In the events that got me silver and a bronze, I will try to convert them into two golds. But you never know in sports," Ashish, also an Asian Games bronze-medallist, had told PTI on the eve of his departure.
Ashish, who won India its first gymnastic medal in Delhi CWG is hoping that the event can once again add to the nation's medal tally.
"Dipa Karmakar is also a medal hopeful in the womens draw. So, in total, my assessment would be three medals from gymnastics," the young gymnast predicted.
Tripura girl Dipa is the rising star of Indian gymnastics and is nicknamed the 'Golden Girl' of her state.
Excelling at the balancing beam, uneven bars, floor exercises and the vaulting table, Dipa will be a potent force in Glasgow alongwith fellow gymnast Pranati Das in the women's events.
Dipa, with 53.75 points in 2013, was among the finalists in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the World Cup, which in itself is a big achievement.
The year started with a bang for Dipa after she won gold at the International Commonwealth Championships in Perth.
While Ashish won two gold medal for India, Dipa got the yellow metal in the women's vault.
So if all goes well, Ashish and Dipa with all the other teammates are looking to be counted in this edition of the CWG and become new stars of the nation.
Artistic Gymnastics Squad:
Men: Ashish Kumar and Rakesh Patra.
Women: Dipa Karmakar, Pranati Das, Pranati Nayak, Aruna Budda Reddy and Rucha Divekar.
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