India: Billion hopes but little expectations

DATELINE: DOHA
Finally after lot of uncertainties, the Indian flag was hoisted at the Athletes’ Village yesterday. The Indian tri-colour was unfurled in the presence of Chef de Mission Ram Lal Thakur, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and other officials of the Indian contingent.
Adding glamour to the Indian contingent were the two tennis glamour girls, Sania Mirza and US-based Shikha Uberoi. India’s star footballer and captain Bhaichung Bhutia was also present at the event . The boxing contingent was lead by Vijender Singh. Vijender, who beat South Korean Athens Olympics bronze medalist few months back in Delhi in an exhibition match, said, “There are 50-50 per cent chances of me bagging the gold. I have kept my fingers crossed. Let the gloves do the talking on the ring.” Leading the charge for India in boxing would be this year’s Arjuna Awardee winner, the second highest sporting honour in India, and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Akhil Kumar. However, Akhil was absent from the event.
Speaking to The Peninsula, India’s Chef de Mission, Ram Lal Thakur, who himself was a keen sportsman during his heydays, said, “Leading a strong Indian contingent is an entirely different experience altogether for me. First I would like to congratulate for the excellent arrangements made by Dagoc here in Doha.”
Born in 1951, the same year when New Delhi hosted the first Asian Games, Thakur who is also a Sports minister of the northern India state of Himachal Pradesh, said, “What started as a small event in India in 1951, has now turned into the World’s second largest Games after the summer Olympics and obviously it makes me proud and I feel honoured to lead India, a country of more than one billion, here in Doha. Playing the National anthem and see the Indian tri-colour (flag) fluttering here in the Athletes Village is really thrilling.”
However, President of Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi said, “We haven’t set any medal target for us. We are not here with great expectations. We are happy with whatever medals come in our kitty. Main thing here is giving international exposure to the athletes as Delhi will host the next Commonwealth games in 2010. We will also give presentation to the General Assembly and our target is to bid for the Asian Games 2014 with Delhi as the venue.”
Talking about football in which India’s participation fell into jeopardy with the Indian government not giving the green signal for their participation, Kalmadi said, “Football is a global game and we want to give exposure to our players. They should have experience of playing at this level.”
Earlier in the day, Indian tennis glam-girls, Shikha Uberoi and Sania Mirza, landed at the Doha Airport. Although it will be Sania’s second appearance in Doha, Shikha is dying to don the Indian colours at the court. Cousin sister of Bollywood star Viveik Oberoi, Shikha came wearing the Indian jacket and told reporters, “I am thrilled to play for the country and I cannot wait to get started. I am already wearing the Indian outfit and would try hard to make India proud.” Regarding partnering Mahesh Bhupathi, Shikha said, “It would be a nice experience and am looking forward to play for with him.”

(picture) From top: Shooter Gagan Narang, cueist Pankaj Advani and boxer Akhil Kumar


Meanwhile, mediapersons and shutterbugs went crazy chasing Sania at the airport. She created a flutter as local and Indian journalists chased her for quotes and that perfect picture. Looking slimmer than before, on her chances at Doha, Sania said, “Let’s hope for the best. It feels great to come here again and I am really excited to be here. I am coming back here after three years and Doha feels like second India to me.”
Sania, who has represented India in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, said, “I have improved from the previous Asian Games and will give everything I have to make my country proud.”
India’s another medla hope in cue sports, World Amateur snooker and billiards champion, Pankaj Advani will be landing in Doha on December 2. Advani is the second person in the world to don the hat of world billiards as well as snooker champion and is a definite medal hope for the country.
India would also be looking to reap it rich at the Lusail shooting range. Lt Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Gagan Narang, Samaresh ‘Goldfinger’ Jung, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Pemba Tamang, Vijay Kumar and Tejaswini Sawant are the India's medal contenders in shooting. India had a rich haul of 16 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games earlier this year. However, giving them tough fight in the arena would be shooters from the Central Asian countries.