Commonwealth Games: India aim for 100 medals and second spot finish-Oct 3, 2010,

Commonwealth Games: India aim for 100 medals and second spot finish

Bobilli Vijay Kumar, TNN, Oct 3, 2010, 01.26am IST

NEW DELHI: Calm descended on the Capital on Saturday as anxiety finally gave way to anticipation, if not palpable excitement, on the eve of the Commonwealth Games.

Eerily, the roads were empty; metro trains rattled through deserted stations and bazaars were quiet. The teeming millions conjured up by the word 'India' was missing. Delhi was a ghost town on Saturday.

On Sunday, however, when Prince Charles declares the Games open, in the presence of President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries, the world will once again see India's many colours. It will hear the country's mellifluous and varied sounds and experience its rich culture, heritage and tradition.

The spectacular three-hour opening ceremony promises to erase all memory of the pain and ignominy India endured as preparations for the Games overcame tight deadlines, inefficient officials and corrupt politicians.

India is hoping to march into a new dawn. The 619-strong contingent, including 409 competitors, has already declared its target: the Number two position and 100 medals. It may just be two levels up from its fourth-place finish in Melbourne in 2006, but it will still be a great leap forward, at least in the world of sport.

After all, it would mean getting past buoyant Canada and a much more formidable England even as Australia stays comfortably out of reach. If nothing else, the extravaganza is thought likely to usher in a new sporting culture and sporting excellence. Led by world class shooters, including Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, spirited wrestlers and ambitious weightlifters, it may not be mission impossible.

India's greater challenge, though, would be to erase from the world's memory the anger and negativism that have dotted the run-up to the Rs 70,000-crore Games. The Capital is already a fortress, with machine gun-toting cops and speeding police jeeps.

Delhi is gearing up for the big challenge and the city is looking like a war zone. The state has cleverly closed down virtually the entire city: schools, colleges and most offices have already been given holidays, blowing away any danger of road jams or, worse, anger on the streets. The more optimistic ones in the ranks are even hoping that at least a part of this traffic would find its way into the stadiums.

That would have been a strong possibility if the Commonwealth's best athletes had not chosen to miss the Games. Sadly, sprint gods Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, who could have brought out even the most stoic fan, will be missing. South Africa's controversial runner, Caster Semenya, England's world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis and Australia's pinup girl Stephanie Rice too will add to the frustration of the star-stricken.

There will be many high points though: India's silver star Vijender Singh, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and the breathtaking pair of Lee-Hesh will surely energize the adrenaline rush. The die-hards will yet again look at the hockey wizards to pull off something special even as their women counterparts aim for another medal.

The rugby 7s may well turn out to be the surprise winner of the Games, though, with Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and Samoa eager to strike gold here. Pole vaulter Steve Hooker, swimmer Leisel Jones, squash mandarin Nicole David, among others, will offer a whiff of world-class flavour.

Just a few days back, ironically, disorder and pandemonium reigned: venues were not ready; bridges were falling; even the Village was uninhabitable. But as sports minister M S Gill had quipped everything is ready for the big, fat Indian wedding. Yes, miraculously, almost everything has fallen into place, including wide grins on the faces of Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit.