It is the time of the year again when the Latin motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” takes the center stage. The world’s biggest sporting event, this year involving athletes from 206 nations in 306 events, officially opens in Rio in 24 hours. Given the fabulous, picturesque host country and ever colorful extravaganza of traditional attires and dances, we are in for some mesmerising displays. Samba is inevitably going to be one ingredient that will be served spicy.
While various venues are receiving a final coat of paint or a last minute check, 119 athletes are gearing up for what could be India's greatest show at the Summer Olympics. With a haul of 6 medals in London, India is expected to better their mark this time. With good performances in international tournaments over the past 4 years, expectations have skyrocketed this year.
The predictions we are making here are exactly that – predictions. Although we cannot be perfect, the difference between our predictions and the actual medals table won't be much.
All said, the medals table may ultimately prove of secondary interest. One of the great joys of the Olympics is that it’s impossible to control every factor that can lead to success for individuals. As Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics stated: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part.” It's really tricky to analyze and appraise India’s performance and performers in the fortnight-long sporting extravaganza. But for those of us who will be keeping count, here are our final predictions:
Badminton, under the expertise of national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and boasting the experience of Saina Nehwal should garner one medal, if she can play to her absolute potential. Aiming to change the color of her medal, Saina will be high on confidence after winning against former world champions Ratchanok Intanon and Wang Yihan at the recent Australian Open Super Series. The two world champions along with Spain's Carolina Marin and defending Olympic champion Li Xuerui will be Saina's key competitors.
Deepika Kumari was one of our brightest hopes at London 2012, but sadly archery was no good a result four years back. The coach had to resign as soon as he returned to India after not having kept up to all the Indian hopes. But this around, the women archers are the bright angels of hope, given that the defeat strengthened their mental will, and provided them the experience, and areas to work upon. Along with Bombayla Devi and Laxmi Rani Majhi, Deepika is well poised to win one medal with the women’s recurve team at the Sambódromo. Ranked three in the world, all three will aim to make their opponents quiver on their quest to win India's first medal in archery at the Olympics.
Our wrestlers should rake in at least three medals in Rio given the assured inspiration thanks to the current picture of the sport in our country. While age has probably caught up with our golden lion, Yogeshwar Dutt is our brightest medal hope in his fourth and last Olympics. If he can get the better of Frank Chamizo, there is no reason why he cannot change the colour of his medal from London.
While it remains to be seen how Narsingh Yadav retains the right frame of mind in the decisive hour, he is expected to bring home another medal from wrestling. Narsingh, who will compete in the 74kg category will be under immense pressure to perform after the Sushil Kumar fiasco and doping charges, but he can use all his strengths to his advantage, including his raw power and tight grip, which he has over his opponents. Although the ace wrestler will be under tremendous pressure to perform, he will be looking to clinch any of the three medals and prove himself.
Vinesh Phogat shows a lot of promise and looks set to surprise everyone at the Games. After her disqualification at the penultimate qualifying event in Mongolia for being 400 gm overweight, Vinesh beat former World silver medalist Iwona Matkowska to take the gold in the final qualifying event in Istanbul. Ranked 14 in the world, Vinesh will be hoping to take that confidence with her and get India's first medal in women's wrestling at the Olympics.
Even without the Roger Federer-Stan Wawrinka pair and the Bryan Brothers, there is a slim chance for Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna to bring a medal in tennis after 20 years. But Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna have great personal chemistry on court and could give a tough time to their opponents on their day. It won't be a surprise if they finish in the top three and return with a medal.
Without Vijender Singh and Mary Kom, the nation has found its hero in 22-year-old Shiva Thapa. Since fighting in London at the tender age of 18, he has come a long way to being the second ranked boxer in his category. Currently, the World No. 5 has good chances of winning an Olympic medal but a lot depends on the draw. But Shiva's silver medal at the Asia–Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in April has given India reasons to pin hopes on this boy from Assam. It might be safe to say that the Assamese pugilist will make the most of it.
There is a high chance of Saikhom Mirabai Chanu getting a medal in weightlifting. The 21-year-old has the 4th best lift in the world when she lifted 192kg at the trials. With Hou Zhihui pulling out of the 48kg category and Thailand sending one weightlifter in this event, her long-term goal of winning the second medal in this sport after Karnam Malleshwari can be fulfilled at this Games. If she can improve by a couple of kilograms, India will be getting a medal from the most unexpected sport.
The latest poster girl of Indian sports, gymnast Dipa Karmakar, is the dark horse of our contingent at the Games. One of those very few gymnasts to perfect the Produnova vault, Dipa, scored only 0.358 points less than 2012 women’s gymnastic vault gold medallist Sandra Raluca Izbaa. It would take something exceptional for Dipa to win an Olympic medal but her gold medal at the test event in Brazil will give her the much-needed confidence.
World No. 3 Jitu Rai has the chance of fetching a medal on the very first day. He appears quietly confident as far as the shooting contingent’s chances are concerned. If he plans to treat the Olympics as any other tournament, and if that tournament is like the World Cups, we won't complain. This brings the total to 10 already and if the talented rifle-wielders in old warriors Gagan Narang, Abhinav Bindra, and Heena Sidhu deliver aces, the total will increase. There is no shortage of calibre in the 40-year old ‘ first timer’ Mairaj Ahmed Khan as well and pretty much like the other shooters, he is one medal hopeful too.
When the question arises where to see ourselves this time in the medal table, it would definitely be way better than London 2012 and somewhere around the 30s or 40s when compared to 55th of last time. Rest assured, the athletes can deliver some incredible stirring performances to land medals in double digits for the first time in Olympic history. God, the desired 10 medals already seems so close.
Mission Rio 2016 is not far from being accomplished.
Stand up people, and cheer your countrymen coming together for a new revolution in Indian Sports. Jeeto Rio!
