The race has already begun for the August gathering

Of those, shot putter Inderjeet Singh is a heavyweight, literally. However, going by Olympic standards podium finish seems a long shot for the distance runners/ walkers — Lalita Babar, Sandeep Kumar, Manish Singh, Khushbir Kaur, Sapna, Tintu Luka, Sudha Singh, O. That he won the University Games title in 2015 is surely a shot in the arm for Indian sport. On court, she will have to overcome nerves, both physical and mental though. India is doing well in the qualifying competition though — 60 have sealed spots at the Games and the doors are not shut yet.Seventh heaven for ageless wonderLeander paes will compete in a record seventh Olympics since debuting at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Sindhu should take the two automatic places (awarded to those ranked in top 16) in the women’s singles. He is the only Indian to win an Olympic medal in tennis — in 1996. Ah! The Olympics! It’s time for action unlimited as the athletes push themselves to emerge faster, higher, stronger as they strive to make their mark in the Olympic rings, this time blazing in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.Hint of goldLondon Olympics bronze medallistshuttler and World No.V. Hope the ones supported and funded by the Olympic Gold Quest programme prove a point.From badminton to tennis, shooting ranges and the wrestling mats, india has much to hope for in the quest for medals at RioHere we are, in the year that gives the sports buffs and everyone else on Earth quadrennial kicks. World number one doubles player Sania Mirza would be keen to embellish her shiny trophy cabinet with an Olympic medal, having won titles at every level. On the men’s side Srikanth China chair pads Kidambi and Parupalli Kashyap should comfortably book their berths in Brazil. The women’s hockey team has made a significant breakthrough by qualifying for the Olympics after 36 years while the men made it to the event as reigning Asian Games champions.

The race has already begun for the August gathering.The guns of NarangGagan Narang, London Games bronze medallist, carries Indian hopes at the shooting ranges after his impressive scores on the international circuit of late.The shooters could provide the big bang the country needs.Indian athletics is yet to open its medal account at the Olympics but the contingent is set to be sizeable in Rio with 15 having made the cut so far.At London 2012, India wrested six medals — two silvers and four bronzes — to make it the most successful Olympics medal-wise, doubling the previous record of three medals at the Beijing Games in 2008.The fast and the furiousUsain Bolt has remained unbeaten in the 100m and 200m sprints since Beijing 2008, the first to win golds in both the races at consecutive Olympics.Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, a bronze medallist at London 2012, is another toughie whom the country could count on to grapple a medal.2, Saina is undoubtedly India’s best bet for a top medal. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponappa, India’s only shot in women’s doubles, will need to punch above their weight to wear glitter around their necks.Coming to hockey, India’s honour has been restored with the national game fully represented. Vikas Gowda (discus) and shotputter Manpreet Kaur make up the throws. Deepika Kumari has just bagged her fourth World Cup silver medal in five years and should take that confidence to Rio and make her rivals quiver. Given the zone in which she is playing currently, she has a bright chance.The qualification cut-off for badminton is May 5 but Saina Nehwal and P.P. Being World No.The mixed doubles event in tennis also throws up a potential medal. Athletes from the world over are straining every sinew as they scramble to snare the limited slots available to compete on the biggest stage.Should that progressive pattern hold in Rio, a dozen would be delightful!Game, set and medal prospect Sania mirza, in sterling form as is evident from a clutch of titles she won in 2015, stands a good chance of winning a medal in the mixed doubles tennis. India’s lone individual Olympic gold medal winner Abhi-nav Bindra, Lon-don Games bron-ze medallist Ga-gan Narang, the in-form Jitu Rai, Chain Singh, Gur-preet Singh, Prakash Nan-jappa, Apurvi Chandela, Mai-raj Ahmad Khan provide India with adequate arsenal to conquer podiums at the shooting ranges, going by their encouraging scores at international tournaments.The Indian women’s archery team too holds a lot of promise. Jaisha and Nitendra Singh Rawat.2 Saina Nehwal has a bright chance for the top medal