JOIN USAfter touching a glorious high at home four years ago, India will face harsh realities when the 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games begin here on Wednesday.
With 101 medals, including 39 gold, India were second behind Australia in the 2010 games held at New Delhi.
Home advantage played a part then as the country’s athletes revelled in familiar environs, thriving on the wholehearted support from the fans. That will be absent this time.
More significantly, several events that earned India medals will be absent in Glasgow, including archery and tennis. A total of 19 events have been cut from shooting—India’s gold mine in recent Games.
As such, matching the New Delhi tally seems an impossible task. Still, India have enough firepower to make an impact, especially in the shooting arena, where the experience of Abhinav Bindra will stand India in good stead. Also attempting to nail down gold medals will be Gagan Narang, new sensation Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu.
India have high hopes in badminton, wrestling and boxing too, while in athletics, Vikas Gowda leads the quest in discus throw, a sport that will truly witness some world class competition.
Sprint superstar Usain Bolt will be running only the 4x100 metre relay, but Kenyan 800 metre runner David Rudisha, England’s distance ace Mo Farah and talented athletes from the Caribbean will make a visit to the Hampden Park—a must for the track and field fans.
A colourful opening ceremony has been planned at Celtic Park, with Queen Elizabeth II scheduled to inaugurate the Games which will see 4,500 competitors from 71 nations and territories vying for medals in 17 events over the next 12 days.