India announce squad for Beijing Games Olympics
Saturday, 26 July 2008
NEW DELHI, July 25 (AFP): A 57-member squad will represent India at next month's Beijing Olympics, hoping to better the country's dismal record at the four- yearly sporting extravaganza.
The contingent will not include a men's hockey team-India's flag- bearers at past Olympics-after they failed to qualify for the Games for the first time ever.
But officials sounded confident India's shooters, archers, boxers and tennis players will more than compensate.
"Hopefully we well get some medals this time," Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association, said at a press conference.
"Our shooters are on the top of the list and they are raring to go. We also have great hopes from the boxers and the archery team.
"Tennis stars Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza are also capable of throwing a surprise," he said.
India, a fast-growing economy with ambitions to host the Olympics, has just four individual medals to show for its efforts at the Games, the first one a bronze by wrestler Khasaba Jadhav in Helsinki in 1952.
The contingent will not include a men's hockey team-India's flag- bearers at past Olympics-after they failed to qualify for the Games for the first time ever.
But officials sounded confident India's shooters, archers, boxers and tennis players will more than compensate.
"Hopefully we well get some medals this time," Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympic Association, said at a press conference.
"Our shooters are on the top of the list and they are raring to go. We also have great hopes from the boxers and the archery team.
"Tennis stars Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza are also capable of throwing a surprise," he said.
India, a fast-growing economy with ambitions to host the Olympics, has just four individual medals to show for its efforts at the Games, the first one a bronze by wrestler Khasaba Jadhav in Helsinki in 1952.