Indian shuttlers begin hunt for gold in mixed team

India have been accorded the top seed this time and are clubbed with Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Scotland in Group A.

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.

India is a formidable side and the only countries likely to trouble them are three-time champions Malaysia and England, who have won the gold six times.

Mayalsia, who clinched the gold in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 editions, have three-time Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei in singles and a strong men's doubles combination of Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong.

England, on the other hand, have Rajiv Ouseph in singles and a formidable mixed doubles husband-wife combination of Chris Adcock and Gabriella Adcock. Singapore too are likely to reach the semifinals with their young 10-member squad. With Sindhu suffering an ankle strain just a week ahead of the Games, Saina Nehwal will take the court against Sri Lanka's Madushika Beruwelage.