India returned from Tokyo with seven medals, and it is only natural that a double-digit performance is now desired in Paris.
Paris: Some would be carrying a huge burden of expectations, some others would look to spring a surprise and a few more would be eyeing the perfect closure to their glittering careers as the 117-strong Indian contingent aims for a better-than-before performance in the Olympic Games, starting here on Friday.
India returned from Tokyo with seven medals, and it is only natural that a double-digit performance is now desired in Paris.
Except for wrestlers, who have waded through a highly controversial build-up, athletes in all disciplines have had no complaints about their preparations.
Whether it was training abroad or getting the best of facilities to sharpen their skills, there was planning in place.
But will the hard work, the strategies and the unbridled support translate into medals?
The Big Picture:
It will be a Heculean task to match the Tokyo figures of seven medals, given that except for reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, not many are top contenders in their respective disciplines.
More than half of the 117-member contingent is from three sports — athletics (29 ), shooting (21) and hockey (19). Of these 69 athletes, 40 are debutants.
In other sports too, there are debutants like tennis player N Sriram Balaji and wrestler Reetika Hooda. They are not exactly inexperienced, but largely, India’s campaign will be driven by the athletes, who will be competing on a stage this grand for the first time.
Then there are the seasoned ones who would be expected to raise their game suitably.
Two-time medallist shuttler PV Sindhu, tennis player Rohan Bopanna, legendary table tennis player Sharath Kamal and hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh are certainly playing their last Olympics.
The hockey team has endured patchy form in the build-up to the Games, the boxers and wrestlers are lacking in real competition time. The shooters too have notched up mixed results heading into the Olympics.
The track and field athletes, especially Avinash Sable, have done well of late, but compared to their global rivals, their performances don’t seem enough to put them in the bracket of medal hopefuls.
