INDIA IN OLYMPIC 2004 Athens: Double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore is world No. 3, long jumper Anju George and tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi No. 5 and shooter Anjali Bhagwat No.6... Now, if only rankings could assure medals. In the past few weeks, these three and other Indian medal hopes have converged on sports pages of the ToI presenting a picture of optimism. But to even open the door to the pantheon of Olympic greats Indian and international they will have to slug it out in a gloriously competitive arena. Unlike previous years there is one consolation. Each of the 75 Indians in Athens has earned the right to be there.
Yes, there are a few lucky ones, like sailing wild card entrants Malav Shroff and Sumeet Patel, or others who got in because others pulled-out. As usual, there is expectation of a few medals. Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi feels: a few are on the cards.
The great Milkha Singh, not one to mince words, has a contrasting view. Somewhere in between lies the truth.
And that is independent India has produced only three individual bronze medals K D Jadhav in Helsinki 1952, Leander Paes in Atlanta 1996 and Karnam Malleswari in Sydney 2000 apart from the golden era of hockey in the 50s and 60s. Hockey, which has made news for off-field skirmishes, has been on the wane and after 1980, when we won our last gold in a depleted field in Moscow, a fifth place at Los Angeles has been the best showing. | |
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