THE Tokyo high for Indian sports has raised the bar for athletes and also heightened excitement among fans as the Indian contingent heads for the Paris Olympics. The 117 sportspersons competing in different categories in the quadrennial sporting extravaganza starting July 26 will be hoping to better the nation’s best-ever tally at a single edition of the Olympics. The seven medals haul India registered at the historic Tokyo Games is poised to be bettered by the sportspersons and the country is backing them to the hilt to bring another round of joy. Already soaking the brilliant victory achieved by the cricketers in the Twenty20 World Cup, Indian fans are craving for more such moments of exhilaration from the Olympic-bound contingent.

 

There is every reason to believe that the fans are in for a great return from Paris as the Indians have sharpened their wares to fight against the best in the world. Of the seven medal winners from the last edition, five are appearing in Paris with a hope of bettering their previous best. India would be keenly tracking these efforts to change the colour of the medal while praying for a repeat for javelin throw master Neeraj Chopra. The level of excitement has already reached its peak in India and all eyes would be focused on Paris for the next fortnight. In the last three years, Indian athletes have kept honing their skills to go a notch higher in Paris. Exposure tours, competitive tournaments, conditioning camps and full support from the Target Olympic Podium programme have ensured that the athletes remained an integral part of the changing techniques and progress in their respective disciplines. Some preparatory tournaments have helped the players pinpoint their flaws and iron out mistakes before they stand face to face with some of the world’s top competitors.

 

The Olympics can be a merciless place for contestants and even a miniscule mistake can derail a campaign. The athletes have seen it all in previous outings, especially the Tokyo experience which taught a lesson of perseverance and preparation of the highest level. All their hard work is now set to be tested in Paris. Apart from Tokyo gold medallist Chopra, India have high hopes from the wrestlers, shuttlers, boxers and the men’s hockey team. P V Sindhu is on the cusp of victory to claim three medals in consecutive editions. This is, perhaps, her last Olympics and the lanky shuttler would love to change the colour of the medal to gold. Similar expectations are from the hockey team which hit a wonderful peak in Tokyo by winning a bronze medal. The success is being seen as the breaking of a long jinx in the Olympics. The men have built on the Tokyo medal by making their mark in various tournaments. They look on course to repeat the feat and bring the game firmly back in the top bracket in the country. The boxers, too, would be searching for that one knock-out punch. India is waiting, and praying!