Ok, so officially the event starts today. Some say that Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat is a better prospect of medal than even Anju Bobby George.
Reason is simple. Although like Anju, she is 5th rank holder (in 10 mt Air Rifle Event), but unlike the long jumper she has beaten every one above her rank one time or the other. Her performance in Commonwealth and World Championship presents a lot of hope. Last year in Milan, she is achieved first spot by hitting bull's eye 49 out of 50 times beating world no. 1 Lioubav Galkina of Russia.
She was also the Champion of Champions in a combined competition for men and women in the World Cup Finals in Munich in 2002. She beat 10 of the best men and women rifle shooters to be crowned the best rifle shooter. She also achieved 8th spot during Sydney Olympics for which she had got only 15 days to prepare.
But it's not a smooth run. She will have to fend off world no 1 Lioubav Galkina of Russia, double world record holder Li Du of China, world champion Katerina Kurkova of the Czech Republic, Sydney Olympic silver medallist Cho Hyun Kang of South Korea and World Cup Finals champion Sonja Pfeilschifter of Germany.
Also in her other event, 50 meter Rifle Three-position is an outdoor event, and Athens is quite windy. Her accuracy as well as rank ( no. 11) is not very convincing. Let's hope she keeps her cool and shoot to fame.
The other strong for a medal would be in men's doubletrap through World No. 3 Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who has grown in stature by leaps and bounds in the world arena. The 34-year-old from Jaipur won the gold in the Sydney World Cup earlier this year that saw him gaining in confidence. Recently he won another gold in the Czech Masters. He also won the bronze in the World Shooting Championship in Nicosia, Cyprus last year .
14th August is the D-day. There can't be more fitting Independence Day gift than an Olympic medal in these circumstances.