Steeplechase

Most Indian coaches and athletes from the pack of about 300 odd that will finally tour Busan, refused to indulge in predicting their chances. 8216;8216;Good chance8217;8217; and 8216;8216;should do well8217;8217; were the two most common reactions. The predictions are even more difficult in track and field where the teams have kept their entries close to their chest as the event starts only on October 7.

But on the basis of the past performances and the trend, Indian athletes may finish fourth behind Japan, China and South Korea in that order. Luo Chaoyi, a senior Chinese athletics official has admitted that Japan will pose a major threat to them in Busan.

In fact, Japan had almost toppled the Chinese in the last Games at Bangkok where it was three short of China8217;s 15 gold medals. 8216;8216;This time we will be good only in women8217;s events where we can win eight gold,8217;8217; said Chaoyi on the eve of the Games.

China8217;s downslide began three years ago ever since it was awarded the Olympic Games. It is said that to win the right to host the Games, China had kept its sport 8216;clean8217; and it showed in subsequent championships.

Even in the Asian meets, Chinese athletes could not garner even half of the gold medals at stake. Even for Busan, several young and inexperienced athletes are in the team and according to Yang Shuan, general secretary of the Chinese delegation, it would mean losing out many medals which used to be China8217;s for asking.

For its internal consumption, the Amateur Athletics Federation of India has set the goal of a total of 13 medals but no one seems willing to go further. Scratch a little, and you find the federation is banking on gold by long jumper Anju George and middle distance star KM Beenamol. Anju has been one of the most consistent performers, ending pre-Games competitive phase with a national record equalling effort of 6.74 metres.

At Busan, she should be the top favourite. Japanese Maho Hanaoka with a personal best of 6.82 metres should be her main rival. But then Anju8217;s husband and coach Bobby is quite sure of Anju producing a jump touching 6.90 metres. And if that happens, she should be coming back with gold.

For Beenamol, two subsequent good races in 400 metres 8212; 51.47 sec in the fifth domestic meet and 51.90 in the Open Meet 8212;- indicate her being on the top in the region. She will have to fight it out with Sri Lanka8217;s Damyanti Darsha and the good news for Beenamol is that the Sri Lankan girl is reportedly having a muscle strain.

The Railway girl will also participate in 800 metres where her two good races8212;2:02.15 in the fourth domestic meet and 2:02.18 in Open Meet8212;make her a strong contender for the gold. But it all depends on the day. Beenamol runs well against the clock but pitted against an equal rival she seems to falter. If she manages to hit the front and stays there, she can hope for gold.

For the shorter events, Sri Lankan Susanthika Jayasinghe should be an automatic choice. A bronze medallist at Sydney Olympics in 200 metres, she finished third in 100 metres in 11.20 sec in the World Cup at Madrid last week. She also ended up fourth in 200 metres in 22.82, a timing which Indian sprinter Saraswati Saha returned in the fifth domestic meet. A keen race between the two is on the card at Busan. On paper, Shakti Singh and Bahadur Singh look impressive and even capable of one and two. But then the two have often performed much below par. Therefore, predicting on their chances is rather difficult.

From track to the astroturf, where Indian men and women teams stand a good chance. The defending champions in men8217;s event, India will take to the field with a confident showing at Cologne where they once beat traditional rivals Pakistan. But the controversial utterances by Dhanraj Pillay against some of his team-mates have raised doubts about India playing as a well-knit side.

But according to coach Rajinder Singh, the controversy is over and the team is all set to retain the gold. But at the same time, he cautions about a formidable challenge from Pakistan and Korea. On the eve of team8217;s departure, skipper Dilip Tirkey admitted defence lapses during the Champions Trophy. But he was confident that the boys would overcome the shortcoming and also convert penalty corners.

In the women8217;s section, there are only four teams. The Chinese have emerged as the new power after they won the Champions Trophy at Macau while there may be a three-way fight between Korea, India and Japan for the silver.

Even though the Indian girls won the Commonwealth Games gold last month, winning the silver in Busan will not be an easy task to fulfil.

In tennis, the quartet of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Sunil Kumar should be able to win the team gold. However, for the singles8217; gold, Thai ace Paradorn Srichaphan is the leading contender. With a second-round victory over Andre Agassi in this year8217;s Wimbledon, Srichaphan looks all set to retain his number one slot in Asia.

Unfortunately, some Indian sportspersons will still be waiting in the corridors of New Delhi8217;s Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium when the more fortunate teammates march in Sunday8217;s Opening Ceremony.

The wait will be either for a late government clearance or for ceremonial kit. This, when most officials and hangers-on were the first ones to arrive in Busan. For them, it would be yet another trip to Booze On. Athletes can take the bitter sips of post-Games debacle probe from all quarters.