With India's largest contingent at the 2016 Summer Olympics here, billions back home will hope that the blend of experience, youth and debutants participating in the Games will go the extra mile and script history
Abhinav Bindra, Jitu Rai, Yogeshwar Dutt and Saina Nehwal
Rio de Janeiro: With India's largest contingent at the 2016 Summer Olympics here, billions back home will hope that the blend of experience, youth and debutants participating in the Games will go the extra mile and script history in the sports' biggest extravaganza.
With over a hundred Indians in the fray here, the idea is to better its six-medal tally from the 2012 London Olympics as the Rio Olympics begin today.
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Abhinav Bindra
The biggest and by far best bet for India's golden dreams in Rio would be ace shooter Abhinav Bindra. His 2008 Beijing Olympics gold is the only top individual honour for India at the Games he remains a strong medal prospect.
Gagan Narang, another star shooter, is also a strong medal contender. He had won bronze at the London Games and will look for gold this time.
Jitu Rai
Star shooter Jitu Rai is also in with a strong chance to win a medal in the 50m and 10m pistol events. the army shooter is making his debut at the Games, but is a strong contender having won a gold in the 10m air rifle at the ISSF World Cup this year.
Wrestling is another sport where Indians have emerged as strong contenders in recent years.
Yogeshwar Dutt
Yogeshwar Dutt who bagged a gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games is probably India's best bet for a medal. The 33-year-old won bronze in the 60kg freestyle category four years ago and will aim for top honours in 65kg here.
Another Indian wrestler who will be eager to do well is Narsingh Yadav. The 26-year-old, first staved off a legal challenge from double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar to represent India in the 74kg freestyle category and then emerged clean from a dope mess in the lead up to to the Games.
Saina Nehwal
In badminton, India have high hopes from former World No 1 Saina Nehwal, who clinched won bronze in London and has had a good season.
Hope also rest on India;s tennis team. The mixed doubles pair of Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna complement each other perfectly when it comes to style of play. Then, in the men's doubles, Leander Paes, play in his seventh Olympic Games, and Bopanna are an experienced team.
The Indian men's hockey team, under new captain PR Sreejesh, will aim to better its last-place finish at London 2012. Under new coach Roelant Oltmans India won silver at the prestigious Champions Trophy recently.
Finally, Dipa Karmakar, India's first woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, could create history with a medal riding on her Produnova vault.
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