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Winning an Olympic Medal! – The ultimate dream that any athlete can have. The days are getting closer and closer as we take a look at the Top 6 Indians who can win a Medal in London. This time, we are no pushovers. This time, we will come back with more medals than all the medals we have won so far in all the Olympic Games put together. Let us keep the dream alive.
# 6 – Leander Paes and Sania Mirza – Tennis
Yes, it looks distant now. With all the speculation that surrounded the selection, nobody sane would give Indian Tennis to comeback with a medal from London. Especially with the obnoxious pairing of Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, who has only played with Mahesh Bhupathi in the recent past. But, despite all that, this is the first time that mixed doubles will be hosted at the Olympics since 1924 and this leaves all countries at the same place. If and only if Sania and Leander can play together as a team, we will have an outside chance of a medal.
Mirza, despite what you think off her is a pretty decent doubles player and Leander as well all know is a veteran who might be playing his last Olympics. More than that, you need to win only 4 games to get a Medal at the Olympics. So, will it work? We will have to wait and see.
# 5 – MC Mary Kom – Boxing
Women’s Boxing will be held for the first time in the Olympics and MC Mary Kom is almost assured of winning a medal in there. The five time World Women’s Boxing Champion is at the end of her career which will look even more impressive with an Olympic Gold. Standing on her way will be Chinese World No.1 Ren Cancan who has a great record against Mary Kom.
Will Mary Kom deliver the final punch?
If Mary can fight for the Billion people who will be backing her at London, we can be sure of a medal from her.
# 4 – Deepika Kumari – Archery
She is only 18 and already is the World.No.1. Deepika has won a Commonwealth gold two years back when she was only 16. Last May, she won the Women’s World Recurve Gold Medal at Turkey and is a huge medal prospect for India at London.
Deepika Kumari should manage to win under pressure
In the past two years, Deepika has grown immensely and has defeated some top Archers including the Koreans. She will be competing in both individual and Team recurve events with Dola Banerjee and Bombayala Devi.
How this 18 year old handles the pressure of the Olympics will determine her fate at London.
# 3 – Sushil Kumar – Wrestling
Ever since Sushil Kumar won the Bronze Medal at Beijing, his career has seen a progressive growth. In 2010, he won the Asian Games gold, the Commonwealth gold and also the World Championship gold.
Will he keep the flag flying?
Having been chosen as India’s flag bearer at the Olympics Ceremony, Sushil Kumar will be pumped up. India also has four other wrestlers in contention.
# 2 – Saina Nehwal – Badminton
Saina Nehwal is in her pomp and will be India’s medal brightest medal hope in London. She defended her Swiss Title in March,2012 followed by Indonesian and Thailand Open Titles.
Saina’s best chance to win a medal will be at London
The Chinese will be targeting Saina especially after she defeated many of them en route to her titles this year. But, this isn’t 2008. Saina will not budge under pressure this time.
She has just won the match of her career against Li Xuerui in Indonesia and should at least win a bronze in London.
# 1 – Abhinav Bindra / Gagan Narang – Shooting
India’s first gold medal since 1980 came through Abhinav Bindra at Beijing. This time, Bindra will be competing in the same 10 m Air Rifle event and he will be accompanied by his compatriot Gagan Narang, who missed the mark in Beijing.
Narang defeated Bindra in the 2010 Commonwealth Games to gold. Together, they won gold in the 10 m Air Rifle pairs event.
How awesome will it be if we get a Gold-Silver finish
What would be better than a Gold – Silver medal finish for India in the 10 m Air Rifle event? Let us hope that these two fantastic shooters deliver us that.
Other Indians like Vijender Singh in Boxing, Bhupathi – Bopanna in Tennis, Yogeshwar Dutt in Wrestling, Jwala Gutta – Ashwini Ponnappa in Badminton and Indian Men’s Hockey Team will be gutting to win a medal in London. Let us hope that they fulfill the hope of a billion.
