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| Sports-themed biscuits are displayed at Biscuiteers in London. (Reuters) |
Come June 27, 2012 and our country will participate in which is known as the biggest sporting extravaganza in the world (and yeah it's not IPL), the 2012 Summer Olympics to be held in London.
Our government planned to spend over Rs 2500 mn in preparing for the London Games, including around Rs 200 million on foreign coaches. Ajit Pal Singh, former captain of the Indian hockey team, has been named the chef de mission of the Indian contingent by the IOA.
India first participated at the Olympics in 1900, with a lone athlete Norman Pritchard winning two silver medals. Norman also became the first athlete representing an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal. Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Norman was of British descent and moved to England permanently in 1905.
Indian athletes have won a total of 20 medals in the history of Olympic Games. Most of our medals came in field hockey. There was a time when India's men's hockey team was dominant in Olympics competition, winning eleven medals in twelve Olympiads between 1928 and 1980. The team went on winning six successive gold medals from 1928–1956.
Beijing Olympics 2008 has been the best ever Olympics for India. India won three medals in three different sports. Abhinav Bindra became the first Indian to win an individual Gold (Shooting) at the Games.
India has till now won a total of 20 medals in different events
Field hockey: 8 Gold; 1 Siver; 2 Bronze
Shooting: 1 Gold; 1 Silver
Athletics: 2 Silver
Wrestling: 2 Bronze
Weightlifting: 1 Bronze
Tennis: 1 Bronze
Boxing: 1 Bronze
What to look out at the London Games 2012:
* India has so far 4 archers qualified for London Olympics 2012.
* 12 Indian athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards for the London Olympics. (Players to watch: Krishna Poonia, Mayookha Johny)
* India has earned 5 quotas in Badminton. (Players to watch: Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa)
* India has earned 8 quotas in Boxing. (Players to watch: Devendro Singh, Vijender Singh, Shiva Thapa)
* The Indian Hockey Team has qualified for the Games after winning a qualifying tournament. India could not qualify for the main event last time.
* India has earned 1 quota in Judo.
* India has qualified 2 boat with up to 3 athletes.
* India has earned 11 quotas in shooting events. (Players to watch: Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, Ronjan Sodhi, Shagun Chowdhury)
* 4 Indian swimmers have so far achieved qualifying standards for the London Games. (Player to watch: Virdhawal Khade)
* India has won 2 quotas in Table Tennis.
* India has won 2 quotas in Weightlifting.
* India has won 5 quotas for Wrestling.
We wish the Indian contingent all the best for the London Games 2012 and pray that our sportspersons give their best and bring glory.
