A star-studded Indian badminton team will begin its quest for a maiden gold medal when they take on minnows Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the mixed team championship on the opening day of the 21st Commonwealth Games here on Thursday.
With the likes of Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu, world No 2 Kidambi Srikanth and a promising men's doubles pair of Satwik Ranki Reddy and Chirag Shetty in their ranks, formidable India will hardly break any sweat en route to the knockout stage.
Silver medallists in 2010, India had narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 2014 Glasgow Games after losing to Singapore in the medal play-off and Pullela Gopichand coached team would look to make amends.
With Sindhu suffering an ankle strain just a week ahead of the Games, Saina Nehwal will take the court on Thursday against Sri Lanka's Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwelage at the Carrara Sports Arena in the women's singles.
The clash against lightweight Sri Lanka will begin with Pranaav Chopra and Ruthvika Gadde taking on Sachin Dias and Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa in the mixed doubles.
In the men's singles, Srikanth will then take on London Olympian Niluka Karunaratne, whom the Indian had beaten in the Glasgow edition. Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will then face Buwaneka Goonethilleka and Dinuka Karunaratna in men's doubles, while Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy will lock horns with Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage in women's doubles.
India will cross swords with Pakistan in the evening.