10 Indians to watch out for at London Olympics 2012
David Beckham has just kicked off the Olympic torch relay for the London Olympics which is coming up in 2 months. 73 Indians have already qualified for the event and few more are expected to add up to the tally. With India having bagged 3 medals at the Beijing Games last time around, is it possible for them to put in a repeat performance this time? Let us have a look at 10 Indians who could make us proud this year by returning with a medal around their neck.
10. Krishna Poonia (Discus Throw)
Krishna Poonia shot to fame with a Gold Medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. An injury immediately after the games saw her performances take a dip. However, Poonia has been peaking at the right time and just two weeks back set the national record (64.76 m) for discus throw at the Altius Track Crew Throwdown meet in Hawaii finishing with a Silver medal behind the current Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton of the USA. The girl from Haryana might just prove to be a dark horse to get India the elusive medal in Athletics post-independence.
Realistic Chances: Bleak
9. Manavjit Singh Sandhu (Trap Shooting)
Manavjit Singh Sandhu is one of the veterans present in the strong shooting contingent of 11 of India. Having been in the sport for nearly 18 years and representing India twice in the Olympics, this might be his last shot at a medal in the Olympics. A former world number one in his category(Trap Shooting) has not been in great form recently but his last chance for a shot might just provide enough motivation for him to grab a medal for India in the event.
Realistic Chances: Outside Chance
8. Sushil Kumar (Wrestling)
Sushil Kumar was a surprise bronze medallist at the Beijing Olympics with no one even recognizing him before the games.Sushil went on to win gold medals at the World Wrestling Championship and Commonwealth games in 2010. However the medals have brought the burden of expectation on his shoulders and the pressure could tell as he had to wait as long as April 28th2012 to secure his berth for the games this summer. So it will be interesting to see whether Sushil can handle the pressure and bring back some silverware for India
Realistic Chances: Hopeful
7. Mary Kom (Women’s Boxing)
The introduction of Women’s Boxing in the London Olympics has brought a smile to the Indian faces as they can envision their 5-time world champion boxer Mary Kom bag a Gold for them at the games. However, age and difficulty in finding the right weight category to participate in have caused stutters in Mary Kom’s performances of late. She had to rely on other results to qualify for the Games after being knocked out in the quarters of the World Championships this time around. So she will really have to pick her game up if she has to garner any hopes of securing a medal.
Realistic Chances : Decent
6. Ronjan Sodhi (Double Trap Shooting)
Ronjan Sodhi missed out on the Beijing Olympics due to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore being given the chance to retain his medal. This former world champion, currently ranked among the top 10 in the world, has been consistent throughout his career and will be itching to prove his mettle in his 1st outing in the Games.
Realistic Chances: Decent
5. Vijender Singh (Boxing) 
The boxer from Haryana has been a consistent performer at the big events. However, people have always doubted his ability to go the distance as he tends to finish with more bronzes and silvers than golds. Vijender will have to give it his best shot to put his doubters to rest and retain the bronze or even better his performance from last time.
Realistic Chances: Decent
4. Saina Nehwal (Badminton)
The current 5th-ranked shuttler in the world was under tremendous pressure last time around to bag a medal and returned empty-handed with a quarter final exit. Having been plagued by injury all year and with some poor performances in the run up, the expectations from the Hyderabadi girl have dropped a bit which might just prove to be a boon rather than a bane for her. But she will have her task cut out to get through the Chinese to secure a medal.
Realistic Chances: Outstanding
3. Leander Paes/ Mahesh Bhupathi/ Rohan Bopanna/ Sania Mirza (Tennis)
Tennis has always been India’s hope for a medal ever since Leander Paes’s achievement at the ’96 Summer games and it will continue to do so this time as well. With Paes, Bhupathi, Bopanna and Mirza all set to qualify for the doubles this time around, it will be interesting to see the pairs that AITA decides to send to the Games. Bhupathi has already expressed his desire to play alongside Bopanna and it looks likely that the AITA might listen to his request. Sania Mirza has not yet decided on her mixed doubles partner, leaving a gap for any of the other 3 to fill in. This is the last chance for Lee and Hesh to grab an Olympic medal and the matches will be played on their favoured grass courts which might just prove to be a clinching point for them this time around.
Realistic Chances: Outstanding
2. Abhinav Bindra/Gagan Narang (10m Air Rifle Shooting)
Abhinav Bindra did India proud 4 years back by bagging the country’s 1st individual gold medal. Hence, the weight of expectation on his shoulders is very high this time around. The good thing here is that he has Gagan Narang alongside him participating in the same event to take some burden off his shoulders. Both have been recognised as medal contenders by the whole world, although recent results have not been in their favour with both not even being able to qualify for the finals at the Shooting World Cup a month back. So both these players will have to up the ante to make India proud again.
Realistic Chances: Outstanding
1. Deepika Kumari (Archery)
The young 17-year-old will be going in to the Recurve event as India’s main hope to not only bag 1 but possibly 2 medals, something which has never been achieved before. Deepika is coming off the back of an impressive Gold Medal at the World Cup in the Women’s Recurve Individual event and would like to carry the same form into the Olympics. If ably supported by Chekrovulo Swuro and Bombayala Devi, the three could capture a medal in the team event as well. But the question is – will the tiny framed teenager be able to bear the pressure and make a clean swoop at the Olympics too?
Realistic Chances : Outstanding
Apart from the names mentioned above, there a few names worth mentioning who could ruffle a few feathers if they give in their best performances – Vikas Krishnan (Boxing), Ashwini Ponappa/Jwala Gutta (Badminton), Tintu Luka (women’s 800m).
How many Golds , Silvers and Bronze do you think will India get ?