The 2016 Olypmics games are fast approaching, and the excitement levels of the fans are increasing. This time around there is a huge hope that this will be India’s best ever performance at the Olympics. Let’s have a look at some of the important News about The team this time around
This time India is sending its Largest ever Delegation in the Olympic games with total of 121 athletes which is 38 more than the previous highest which was back in London in 2012. The Indian athletes will compete in 16 different sports with as many as 67 different events. The delegation heading for Rio as of now includes 67 men and 54 women.
This is also the first time that the Indian Women’s Hockey team has qualified for the games after a long time, and thus we would be fielding 2 hockey teams both men and women. The men’s team look to be in impressive form and are coming back from recent silver medal winning performance in the champions trophy.
Beside Hockey India have a strong medal contenders in lot of other sports as well including Tennis, Badminton, Archery etc. Let’s have a quick look at some of the main Medal aspirants for India who carry the hopes 0f a 1.2 billion on their shoulder.
Badminton
With Saina Nehwal leading the Indian shuttlers into Rio, these is one sports where India is expected to win at-least 1 or 2 medals. In the Women’s single Pusarla Sindhu is the other Indian to have qualified along with Saina Nehwal. While the Popular pair of Jwala Gutta & Ashwini will turn up at the Doubles event. In the Men’s event Srikanth Kidambi will represent India at singles while the pair of Manu Attri & B. Sumeeth Reddy will turn up at the doubles.
Men’s Hockey
India’s Historic dominance at Olympic in Men’s hockey is no secert as India has won the highest no of Gold medal (8). However recent years have not been good for Indian hockey as far as Olympic is concerned with the last Medal came back in 1980 in Moscow. However this time around their is lot of hope from the Men’s team , with the team rebuilding quite good and with the recent Positive performance , there is a hope that India will end their Medal drought in Hockey.
Shooting
India has won medal in shooting in the past 3 Olympics and this year should be no different with India sending a 12 member team consisting of 9 men and 3 Women’s shooter. Abhinav Bindra who is also the Indian Flag bearer for the games will be Participating in the 10m air Rifle , and there is a big possibility that he repeats his 2008 heroics once again. Another Strong Contender for a Medal in shooting is 2012 Medalist Gagan Narang who is Participating in 3 events including the 10m air Rifle event.
We’ll have a look at India’s other possible Medal Prospects in out 2nd part of India at Rio Olympics 2016.
