PTI
Rio de Janeiro, August 4: Dope scandals marred what was turning out to be a euphoric build-up but India’s biggest ever contingent would nonetheless be eyeing a historic medal haul when the 31st Olympic Games, get underway here with the opening ceremony here Friday.
The Indians are eyeing their first ever double-digit medal haul riding on the sheer number of qualifiers this time, standing at 119 now after sprinter Dharambir Singh and shot-putter Inderjeet Singh were told to stay back after being caught in the dope net.
On the first day of competitions Saturday, India can eye a medal from Jitu Rai, the pint-sized star whose pistol has been shooting medals at almost every event he has participated in.
Jitu is the reigning 50m air pistol champion at the ISSF World Cup and the favourite to repeat Abhinav Bindra’s gold medal feat of Beijing 2008.
Competing in both 10m and 50m events, the Nepalese-born shooter is undoubtedly the favourite for a top finish in a star-studded 12-member team.
In his fifth and final appearance, Abhinav Bindra, who would be India’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, would look to end his career on a high even though he has not been in his top form. Focus will also be on the likes of Heena Sidhu, Ayonika Paul, Apurvi Chandela – the three women shooters.
Another big medal prospect for India would be wrestling. While it remains to be seen how Narsingh Yadav (74kg freestyle) overcomes the tumultuous build-up he endured, London Olympics bronze-medallist Yogeshwar Dutt (65kg freestyle) would be expected to do an encore or even better his feat.
India will bank on Vinesh Phogat (48kg), Babita Kumari (53kg) and Sakshi Malik (58kg) to get them a medal in women’s ranking. Inside the boxing ring, a squad of three will carry India’s baton. Of the three, there are high hopes from the duo of Shiva Thapa (56kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg), both of whom are World
Championship bronze-medallists and are ranked sixth in the world.
Tennis too had a controversial Road-to-Rio when Rohan Bopanna preferred lower-ranked Saketh Myneni over the senior-most Leander Paes before AITA’s intervention stopped a repeat of London-like skirmish.
Atlanta bronze medallist Paes would aim for his dream doubles Olympic medal in his seventh straight Games – a record for any tennis player. But it is the duo of Bopanna and Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles where India have a better medal chance as they can complement their game styles to match each other’s abilities.
Badminton too is seen as a medal prospect for India where London bronze medallist Saina Nehwal and the promising PV Sindhu, who won two World Championship bronze medals in 2013 and 2014.
When the Olympics conclude with athletics, India will only make their presence felt with its biggest ever squad in a discipline where medal is a far-fetched dream.
Spotlight will be on the gritty Dutee Chand who is back on track after winning a landmark gender case against the IAAF and has become the first Indian sprinter to qualify for the Olympics in 36 years.
Archers eye success after London debacle
Blown away quite literally the last time around, Indian archers would look to make amends for the flop-show in London when they take aim in the 31st Olympic Games here Friday. Football and archery are the sports which kick-start even before the official opening ceremony of the Games.
The four-member Indian team will step into Rio’s landmark Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai here Friday, with an aim to break a jinx and prove the naysayers wrong.
The archers have participated in the Olympic Games since the sport was introduced in Seoul (1988) and, barring Sydney (2000) when they failed to qualify, they have competed in six editions with their best finish being the quarterfinals by the women’s team in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).
In the individual section, Satyadev Prasad pulled off the best finish among Indians by advancing to the pre-quarters 12 years ago. But since the advent of Deepika Kumari, the sport has suddenly become one of India’s medal hopes. At last count, she had more than 10 gold medals at the world level.
By the 2012 Olympics, she had become world No.1, along with her team, and expectedly the hopes skyrocketed. But all the hype fizzled out in a few seconds when Deepika lost to Amy Oliver of Great Britain, while the team — which also had Bombayla Devi Laishram and Chekrovolu Swuro — went down to Denmark, both in first rounds.
Having landed here more than a fortnight ago, the Indian archers are ‘feeling at home’ and coach Dharmendra Tiwari is looking forward to some historic celebration at the iconic venue. “Hopefully it’s us who will celebrate the samba on the streets of Rio,” Tiwari said Wednesday.