With only three weeks left for the Asian Games to begin in Indonesia, preparations are gaining pace for the smooth conduct of the 'Mini Olympics' to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18.
A majority of the Indian participants at the 16-day event are in practice sessions either in domestic camps or abroad. The aim, obviously, is common: a medal for the country.
Among the promises, India have quite a few athletes capable of occupying the top slot on the podium at the 18th Asiad that has 45 nations participating. It’s another matter that they are already stars no matter whether they shine in Indonesia.
Here’s a look at the champs.
Come on, Neeraj
Track and field athlete Neeraj Chopra is a big promise in javelin throw, where he is a former under-20 world champion. He won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast this April. Neeraj also holds the national record (87.43 metres).
Indonesia will be the first Asiad for the 20-year-old from Haryana’s Panipat. He is currently taking part in the Diamond League under veteran German Uwe Hon, a world record holder who is the only athlete to throw a javelin 100 metres or more. He had finished fourth at Doha in May this year, and, the other day, fifth at Morocco, thus qualifying for the prestigious Diamond League final.
Neeraj’s main opponent at Indonesia would be Taiwan’s Chen Chao-tsun, four years elder and holder of the Asian record (91.36 metres, set last year).
Evergreen Paes
At 45, Kolkatan Leander Paes refuses to fade from the world tennis scene, literally conducting himself like a bubbly teenager on court. A good 22 years ago, he had won the bronze for India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. With eight Asian Games medals to his credit, Paes is a star participant at the Indonesia Asiad. He had missed the last two editions of the Games owing to various reasons. The last time he played was in the 2006 Asiad at Doha, where he won the gold for India in both the doubles and mixed doubles categories.
At Indonesia, it remains to be seen if Bengaluru’s Rohan Bopanna, seven years younger, will give Paes company in the doubles.
Ferocious and well-mannered Sushil
Sushil Kumar, who hails from a village off Delhi, has held the Indian tricolour up in two Olympics: a bronze in 2008 (Beijing) and silver in 2012 (London). The 35-year-old wrestler has earned India several medals in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships. Yet, he has pocketed only one medal when it comes to Asiad: a bronze at Doha, 12 years ago. Occasionally, Sushil drifts on to bouts of complaints and protests.
As a wrestler who won the gold in 80 seconds in the ring at Gold Coast in the 74-kg freestyle category three months ago, Sushil’s prime opponents at Indonesia would be those from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Iran.
Wonderkid Anish
Shooter Anish Bhanwala pleasantly shocked his compatriots by winning a gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Only 15, the boy from Sonepat in Haryana emerged on top in the 25-metre category at Gold Coast in Australia. He invites the keen eyes of Indians to the shooting range at Palembang. Already experts are comparing him with Chandigarh icon Abhinav Bindra, a former world and Olympic champion in the 10-metre event.
Indonesia can reinforce Anish’s reputation as a major promise.
Steely Vikas
Haryanvi Vikas Krishan Yadav is a boxer in whom India has hopes at the Asian Games. In its earlier editions in 2014 and 2010, he had won the bronze and gold respectively. At Gold Coast this summer, the 26-year-old topped in the middle-weight category. Things won’t be easy for Vikas at Jakarta, where Uzbek stars are considered to be formidable in the 75-kg category. The boxer from the tough terrains of Bhiwani upcountry is, all the same, known for his inner strength.
―Onmanorama