JOIN USAs the vehicle to the Olympic Stadium began its journey on Independence Day morning, an Indian journalist took out the Tricolour from his bag, caressed it wistfully and put it back in its place.
It is the 11th day of the Olympic Games and till this day, he hasn’t had the chance to wave it joyfully at any of the competition venues here. On the medals table dominated by the United States, Great Britain and China, India have not got a toe hold yet. Not even a bronze medal is there against the country’s name.
Most of the hopefuls have already packed their bags and left, and a sense of gloom is palpable in the Indian contingent here as people keep asking how many medals your country has won.
On Sunday, the final shots were fired at the Olympic Shooting Centre and India drew a blank. It was the first time the shooting squad is returning without a medal since Sydney 2000. A run that started with Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics was sustained by Abhinav Bindra with a gold in Beijing 2008. Vijay Kumar with a silver and Gagan Narang with a bronze kept the flow going at London 2012. But this time, a couple of near misses marked their show. Two of India’s brightest talents also made their exits on Sunday before laying their hands on a medal.
Saina Nehwal, who has set a new benchmark in women’s badminton, had to bow out after being troubled by a knee injury while Sania Mirza, partnering Rohan Bopanna, had a genuine chance in mixed doubles but faltered in the bronze medal play-off. Sania was on the verge of tears as she tried to come to terms with the defeat, unsure whether she will compete in another Games four years from now.
Kidambi Srikanth entering the quarterfinals has reignited Indian hopes in badminton while Vikas Krishan, the lone boxer left, has a difficult path in front.
Little is expected from the remaining track and field team that is living up to its reputation as no-hopers on the big stage. As such, golfer Aditi Ashok and a bunch of wrestlers will now shoulder the burden as final five days of competitions unfold.
Yogeshwar Dutt, who fights on the final day, leads the hopefuls in wrestling, which has come under a cloud due to the Narsingh Yadav saga. A chance to banish the ghosts beckons as India attempt to escape a zero-medal show, last seen at Barcelona in 1992.