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India began quest at the games with qualification round in archery. (Source: PTI)
India has sent its largest ever Olympics contingent to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The athletes tally consists of 119 players. The previous contingent that was sent in London Olympics in 2012 saw a total of 83 athletes. Abhinav Bindra, participating in his last Olympics, will be India’s flag bearer with the opening ceremony on August 5.
India had a medal tally of six at the London 2012 Olympics and the hopes from all ends are to improve on that number with more athletes in participation. Events such as shooting and badminton are sending the largest team sizes with 12 and seven respectively.
The Olympics even before the opening ceremony have gone through a lot of ups and downs. From construction delays, corruption, security concerns and recently Zika virus outbreak which has forced many to pull out. Apart from Zika problems, Russia’s doping mess severely affected the games’ pre-tournament build-up. To add to that, thefts and infrastructure issues at the village has also added to the concerns for the organisers and IOC.
Majority of the Indian athletes have already reached Rio. The athletes include Jitu Rai, Prakash Nanjappa, Gurpreet Singh, Chain Singh, athletes Khushbir Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, women’s hockey team, Sajan Prakash and Shivani Katariya and some of their coaches and officials. India is housed in building no. 31 of the village. India begin their quest with the ranking round in men’s and women’s individual ranking events of Archery.
Rio 2016 Olympics Live, Day 0:
# In the women’s department, Deepika finished a lowly 20th while Laishram was 23rd after ten rounds
# It wasn’t a good outing in the women’s department but in the men’s competition Atanu Das finished an impressive fifth. Das showed fine composure and skill to bounce back from a poor start in his maiden Olympics to finish fifth in the qualification round as archery got underway at Brazil’s historic Samba street
# Action in Archery is underway. Follow live!
# Sachin Tendulkar alongside Nita and Mukesh Ambani in Rio
# Men’s archers to get the action underway at 5.30 PM IST. In the qualification round, Atanu Das with target 22A will be first to get things underway. India has no representation in the men’s team event. Later, at 9.30 PM, women’s archers will be in action. Bombayla Devi, Laxmirani Majhi and Deepika Kumari would be hopeful of doing right from much hopes at London.
BUILD UP
# Blazer over saree, not what Indian women want to wear
Finding the combination odd, some Indian woman athletes marched out during the opening ceremony at London Games with blazer in their hands. (Right) Indian women’s uniform for the ceremony in Rio tonight.
India’s official uniform for opening ceremony isn’t quite the national attire; it is uncoordinated and not popular with the ladies.
# Flag bearers of all nations in Rio Olympics opening ceremony 2016
Sir Chris Hoy was host nation Great Britain’s flag bearer at the 2012 London Olympics. This time, Andy Murray has that honour. (Source: Reuters)
Athletes from 207 nations will lead their countries forward in the traditional parade at the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Rio on August 5.
Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony 2016 is not likely to be an expensive affair, the director of the show has claimed. (Source: AP)
Rio Olympics opening ceremony 2016 will be held at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5.
Sushil Kumar led the Indian contingent at the London 2012 Olympics.
Balbir Singh Sr has the rare honour of being India’s flag bearer twice at the Summer Olympics. Abhinav Bindra gets that responsibility in Rio.
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