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India's <keyword id="6355013" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tennis" source="Orion">tennis</keyword> campaign at the <keyword id="20006192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris-Olympics" source="keywords">Paris Olympics</keyword> lasted just one day as <keyword id="19926485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sumit-Nagal" source="keywords">Sumit Nagal</keyword> and the men's doubles pair of <keyword id="19895238" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rohan-Bopanna" source="keywords">Rohan Bopanna</keyword> and <keyword id="20253721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="N-Sriram-Balaji" source="keywords">N Sriram Balaji</keyword> bowed out after losing their respective opening matches to French challengers on Sunday. Nagal was first to take court, but his strong baseline game didn't seem to be enough against mercurial Corentin Moutet, who earned a stylish three-set win. In his second appearance at the Olympic Games, Nagal bounced back after losing the first set but fell 2-6 6-4 5-7 in two hours and 28 minutes at a packed court seven at the Roland Garros. In the Tokyo Games, Nagal had lost in the second round to Russian Daniil Medvedev but could not make the most of a manageable opener today. He was up 2-0 in the decider with an early break but allowed Moutet to claw his way back and win. Later in the day, Bopanna and Balaji went down fighting 5-7 2-6 against Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Gael Monfils, who replaced injured Fabien Reboul in the home team at the last minute. India have won only one Olympic medal in tennis, when <keyword id="20346818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Leander-Paes" source="keywords">Leander Paes</keyword> bagged a bronze in the 1996 Atlanata Games. Monfils' big-hitting helped the home team that was egged on by the partisan crowd. It was probably the last time Bopanna represented India in a multi-sport event. The 44-year-old has already announced his retirement from Davis Cup. The doubles match featured several fiery baseline exchanges between Bopanna and both the French players. The French ploy of engaging Bopanna in long rallies from the back took Balaji out of the picture on many points, and it largely denied the debutant opportunity of a quick finish at the net. The Indians dropped serve first when Bopanna went down 0-40 in game six following a long rally that ended with Indian team's unforced error. Bopanna and Balaji though got the break back in the next game on Roger-Vasselin's serve. Down by a breakpoint, Monfils could not put away a volley. The match was back on serve. Eventually, Balaji came out to serve at 5-6 to stay in the set. Feeling the nerves, he struggled to put first serves in and committed a double fault to get to 15-30. A long rally ensued, which ended in home team's favour. At second set point, Bopanna netted a backhand volley. Balaji could not hold serve in the second set, as Bopanna too stuggled to cope with the powerful strokes of the French players. The match ended with Indian team's unforced error. It has always been a battle of attrition between Nagal and Moutet with three of their last four outings being three-set affairs and it was no different today. Nagal had got the better of Moutet in their last meeting in Grand Prix of Hassan in the Moroccan city of Marakkech in April this year. Nagal didn't seem to have a plan B but Moutet had a few tricks in his bag to unsettle his rival. He served underarm a number of times and used the drop shots, the forehand slice and the backhand slice very effectively. The chants of Coco-Coco, Aaale-Aaale and Moutet-Moutet certainly gave the home player the energy required in such a slugfest. Nagal had a nervy start with a boisterous crowd behind Moutet. A drop volley error at 30-all put him down by a break point. Another unforced error cost him the opening game. The French player began with an underarm serve, much to the amusement of the home fans. He, however, ended up serving a double fault. It was an easy hold for the southpaw even as Nagal also bounced back with a hold at love. Nagal said he was expecting underarm serves from him but obviously didn't appreciate that. Moutet struggled a bit with his first serve but fed Nagal a lot of high balls and attacked his backhand more to build on the break. Nagal had his chances to get the break back in game four but squandered four breakpoints. He was down by another break point in game five but saved and held when Moutet just missed the line with his return. The crowd favourite again amused the gathered supporters at court seven as he crossed over the court to check the spot if the ball landed inside the line. It was crucial for Nagal to hold serve after falling behind 2-4 but he erred on overhead volley at breakpoint. Moutet pocketed the opening set when Nagal'a forehand return soared over the baseline. The second set was not a one-way traffic with Nagal finding his rhythm. The free points were not given. The set remained in serve till game five. After playing two deuce points, Moutet again served underarm, and this time he got the point as Nagal netted the return. Nagal was furious but the crowd loved the moment. Nagal finally had his first break of the match when Moutet's dropped shot crashed into the net. Before that on the second break point, when he netted the return, Nagal had banged his racquet on the court, letting go of the frustration. However, he gathered himself with the crucial break. The crowd stood and began singing the national anthem to egg on their favourite. Nagal though, consolidated the lead with a hold and levelled the match by breaking his rival in game eight when Moutet netted a volley return. The French player yet again resorted to giving high balls and drop shots to Nagal to break the momentum, and almost succeeded, but Nagal too stuck to his guns, avoiding an early break. He then broke Moutet when he double faulted while facing his fourth break point. Leading 2-0 in the decider, Nagal had a perfect opportunity to run away with the match but found himself down 0-40. He saved the first breakpoint but a drive volley error from him meant that the set was back on serve. Serving at 5-5, Nagal began by netting a forehand, and Moutet found a stunning forehand slice passing-winner on the run. Another forehand error put Nagal down by three break points. He lost fourth point in a row when he could not pick up a half volley. It was not difficult from there for Moutet to close the match. He will play either Australian world number six Alex di Minaur or Germany's Jan-Lenard Struff next.

India's tennis campaign at the Paris Olympics ends in a single day as Nagal, Bopanna and Balaji bow out

<keyword id="232713" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="hangzhou" source="Orion">Hangzhou</keyword> (China), <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s campaign for excellence in the Paris <keyword id="6450929" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="olympic-games" source="Orion">Olympic Games</keyword> next year faces some crucial tests starting from Saturday when the 19th <keyword id="84384" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="asian-games" source="Orion">Asian Games</keyword> officially kick off in Hangzhou, China. India has set itself an ambitious target of achieving medals in double digits for the first time in the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and the 19th Asian Games not only present an opportunity to assess the preparation of its athletes but also provide Olympic qualification quotas in some sports. Postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic that swept across China last year, the 2022 Asian Games are being conducted within the qualifying period for Olympic Games in all sports and thus provide opportunities for sportspersons to book their berths to France. Indian sportspersons in many sports including men's and women's hockey, table tennis and boxing will get a chance to qualify for the Olympics at Hangzhou. With the Central Government pumping in huge sums to fulfil its dream of Olympic excellence, India is expecting to achieve its best-ever medal haul in the Asian Games at Hangzhou. India's previous best medal haul in the Continental Jamboree has been the 70 medals bagged in Indonesia four years back in 2018. Its campaign spearheaded by the likes of Olympic and World Championship gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, two-time World Champion boxer Nikhat Zareen, Olympic bronze medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain, men's doubles tennis legend <keyword id="12295" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rohan-bopanna" source="Orion">Rohan Bopanna</keyword>, chess champs Koneru Humpy, D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu in badminton and table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal, India go into the Hangzhou Asian Games in bullish mood, hoping to challenge the Asian superpowers China, Japan, South Korea and Iran and finish fifth or above. Besides hoping to win its first gold medal since 2014, the Indian men's hockey team will be hoping to clinch a direct berth in the Paris Olympics by winning the gold medal in Hangzhou. The women's hockey team led by goalkeeper Savita Punia has landed in China to not only clinch its berth for Paris 2024 but also bag its first gold medal in the Asian Games since 1982 when women's hockey made its debut in the continental extravaganza. The women's hockey team led by Rajbir Kaur won the title at home in New Delhi and since then India have claimed silver medal twice -- in 1998 and 2018 -- and bronze medal thrice -- in 1986, 2006 and 2014. The team has finished fourth on four occasions. Overall India have won 671 medals in the 19 editions of the Asian Games so far -- 155 gold, 200 silver and 316 bronze medals. The Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) are hoping to add a substantial chunk of medals to the kitty at Hangzhou and maybe cross the 100-medal mark. Though that may look like a tall order considering the country's best effort so far has been 70 in 2018, it does not sound like an impossible target considering the recent performances by the Indian sportspersons in recent times and the new sports that have been added to the programme here at Hangzhou. India hopes to garner most of its medals from athletics, its bread-and-butter sport at the Asian level, shooting, boxing, wrestling, tennis, rowing and sailing. With esports making its debut as a medal sport in Hangzhou and chess returning to the Games for the first time since 2010, India will also be hoping to bag some medals in badminton, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, judo, wushu and equestrian. The country has sent in a huge Contingent of 921 which includes 655 athletes and 260 coaches and support staff. Competitions have already started in men's and women's football, sailing, rowing, cricket, table tennis, volleyball and beach volleyball. The medal hunt will start on September 24, the day after the Games are officially declared open, with shooters providing the first medal for Another reason for aiming for a rich medal haul at Hangzhou is that India hopes to organise the Asian Games for the third time in the next few years. A rich medal haul at Hangzhou will also boost the country's image and get support for hosting the event for the third time after 1951 and 1982. Can Hangzhou be a stepping stone for Indian sports on way to excelling at Paris 2024 and organising the Asian Games soon? The result will be out on October 8, when the 19th Asian Games will come to a close.

Asian Games: At Hangzhou, India on a quest for excellence and preparing for Paris 2024

If you are eyeing the bull in 2017 and have a fully funded emergency account, you are all set to invest in the stock market. You might be fully charged up. Having read online guides to become a millionaire, you might have learnt that investing in stocks is the quickest way to be rich. 
However you aren’t that confident unless you know about the nitty gritty of investments. 
 Fret not, for <keyword id="330196" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Santosh-Nair">Santosh Nair</keyword> has debunked your fear about stock markets in his new book ‘Bulls, Bears and Other Beasts: A Story of the Indian Stock Market’. Published by <keyword id="664635" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pan-Macmillan-India">Pan Macmillan India</keyword>, this is a comprehensive account of the stock market over the last 25 years. It tells you what to watch out for while investing. It also looks at policies that the government needs to revise if the country is to harness domestic capital more effectively. 
 <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword> in an exclusive interview with <keyword id="6357049" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nair">Nair</keyword> finds out what to watch out for when investing in the Indian stock market. 
 
What is Indian stock market all about? 
It’s definitely one of the best places to grow your wealth. Only thing is that you need to be a little patient. The basic misconception about stock market is that you can make money very quickly. However they don’t do their homework well and later on start thinking that system has cheated on them. The system does have its shortcomings. But if you are patient enough and willing to work hard, the stock market is a very good place to grow your wealth. 
 
How to start investing? 
If you don’t want to take much risk, then equity is a very good way. However, if you plan to invest in stocks directly, you need to do a lot of homework. But, you should also be prepared to accept losses. It’s not always that you win. Big industrialists buy stocks in large amounts from different sectors. So even if one flunks, there is the profit of others to back you up. It’s better to invest in a company or industry where in you have a decent understanding about how it works as opposed to companies and industries, you absolutely know nothing about. 
 
<keyword id="6484188" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sensex">Sensex</keyword> and <keyword id="6354646" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE">NSE</keyword> are different. For an ordinary person how do you define it? Also how do you position Indian market with developed markets? 
 Indian stock market has done well because the country is the fastest growing economy in the world. Sensex and <keyword id="6354813" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="nifty">NIFTY</keyword> are indices comprising of a number of companies. <keyword id="3983529" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="so-sensex">So Sensex</keyword> comprises of 30 companies and NIFTY is 50. It may happen that the index, either NIFTY or Sensex is up, but the stocks you have invested in aren’t. Conversely, the index may be down but the stocks you have invested in are getting you fair returns. A lot of things boil down to the stocks in your portfolio. If there is a report about an index going up by 30%, it’s not necessary that all stocks in that index would go up. If you are investing directly in the market, you should be a little more careful about the companies in the market. It might be that the market has come crashing down, but that doesn’t mean that stocks are cheap. There will always be companies, which have fallen 30-40%, but after the fall they would still be expensive. 
 
Most regular people who invest in retail, get confused between price and value of stocks. Big investors don’t commit these mistakes. It’s like you buy land and you pay a price on the basis of its value. Some years later, this plot gets connected to the main road or metro and the value goes up, so does the price. 
 
Talking about retail stock investors, they would buy stocks that are cheap. For say a stock costs Rs 5, they would go for it and not the one that is expensive, because the chance of Rs 5 stock to become Rs 10 is much probable than the expensive ones. 
 
How should one invest in crisis laden companies, something like <keyword id="6360721" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tatas">Tatas</keyword> is going through at present? 
 Most of the times, these kind of incidents are triggered by sentiments. There will be some kind of development and the market would react to that. It’s neither a knee jerk reaction nor a well thought one. In case of <keyword id="10958" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satyam">Satyam</keyword>, there was a fraud. The company never made as much money as it claimed to be. Now for this company to regain the faith of investors was impossible. For companies, where there is a labour unrest or failure of a product, initially the stocks fall and sentiments turn negative but over longer period, it regains. There is a brisk market reaction. By and large, investments shouldn’t be a result of panic. 
 
The amount of profit you make at the stock market is directly proportional to the amount of risk you are willing to take. 
 
Why did you write the book? 
 
I have been tracking the market for two decades. When you meet people outside the stock market, most people don’t have any idea about how the system of stock market works. It’s very interesting. They have their own notion, which isn’t always right. There is also a good history of the market, which hasn’t been recorded anywhere – like how the evolution happened and how the changes took place over the last few years. So, I thought this could be a good book that explains, educates and entertains. 
 
I have pitched it as a kind of history book. Then when I was writing the book, I thought it would be better if it is narrated by somebody. So, I included my personal experiences of brokers and investors to make it a fun read. 
 
There are various stories, which you have spoken from a close perspective. Which story do you think aptly describes the stock market? 
Compared to the 80s and 90s, Indian stock market has grown to be a far safer place now. It’s far more transparent as far as the ordinary investor is concerned. You have access to information better than before. But having said that it’s far more difficult to make play for an outside game. 
 
Is there anything you thought you should have mentioned but skipped out? 
There are quite a few anecdotes. It’s generally felt that some of the individual investors or market operators as we call them are the sharpest. But even they have been taken for a ride by the promoters. It’s not that all big investors know everything. There are many stocks where they lose. It’s not because of their error or judgement, rather they were provoked by these promoters.

Beginners’s guide to becoming the Wolf of the Indian ‘Wall Street’

What started off as an ALS awareness drive in America is probably on the verge of becoming a worldwide phenomenon. 
 
Indian Tennis player Rohan Bopanna was the one who started this challenge in India after being nominated by former tennis player Amrit Narsimhan. After taking up the challenge, he nominated actor Rahul Bose, sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo and the entire team of Bengaluru Football club. 
 

 
While Rahul Bose decided to donate to the charity, Bengaluru FC did a group challenge and, in turn, nominated Badminton star Ashwini Ponappa, Tennis sensation Sania Mirza and the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket Yuvraj Singh. 
 
 
 
Sania Mirza took the challenge twice, having not enough water in the bucket in the first go, and challenged fellow Tennis players Cara Black and Mahesh Bhupathi, Yuvraj Singh, her sister Anam Mirza and actor Riteish Deshmukh, thus, taking the challenge from Indian sports to Bollywood. 
 
 
 
Ashwini Ponappa completed the challenge as well and nominated fellow baddie player Jwala Gutta, swimmer Rehan Poncha and her friend and fashion designer Shravya Verma. 
 
 
 
Mahesh Bhupathi took the challenge and nominated his coach Scott Davidoff, shooter Abhinav Bindra, Abhishek Bachchan and all the members of the Kabaddi team Jaipur Pink Panthers. 
 
 
 
Riteish Deshmukh, who is in Poland shooting for his film Bangistan, produced by Excel Entertainment, went ahead to take the challenge via his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=854831017863533&amp;set=vb.149681275045181&amp;type=2&amp;theater">Facebook account</a> and nominated his ‘good friends’ actors Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Pulkit Samrat, Siddharth Malhotra and Ashish Chowdhry. 
 
All of the above actors as well as Abhinav Bindra, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Jwala Gutta, Scott Davidoff, Rehan Poncha,and Yuvraj Singh are yet to take the challenge. 
 
Original Image courtesy: <a href="http://www.alsa.org/">ALSA</a>. 
 
The Indian flag has been added in the ALS image for creative purposes only, and the edited image does not reflect any official organisation or association.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Comes To India

Star couturier <keyword id="19970644" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tarun-tahiliani" source="keywords">Tarun Tahiliani</keyword> is in the eye of the proverbial storm over his <keyword id="21239939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="designs" source="keywords">designs</keyword> for the <keyword id="20287873" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-contingent" source="keywords">Indian contingent</keyword> at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games with epithets such as "pathetic" and "mediocre" being used to describe his creations. As the <keyword id="21679717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uniforms" source="keywords">uniforms</keyword> became a talking point on social media platforms and elsewhere too, several people also criticised the designs for becoming a promotion for <keyword id="22604764" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tasva" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tasva" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tasva">Tasva</keyword>, the collaborative label of <keyword id="22604763" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tahiliani" source="keywords">Tahiliani</keyword> and the <keyword id="19907441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Aditya Birla Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Aditya Birla Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>. The men's attire, the classic kurta bundi silhouette, had panel detailing in the colours of the national flag, safari pockets, and rolled-up sleeves. The women's saris featured a pre-pleated design for convenience and ease of wear. Their borders featured the panelling in tricolour. They completed the look in gold brocade sneakers. What has not gone down well for some is the way brand logo has been incorporated prominently in the borders of the garments, the fabric used and the fits. Tahiliani's team said he was unavailable for comment when PTI reached out for a response. However, he defended himself in an interview with NDTV when he said he stood by his work and said the opening ceremony was not a couture show. "We wanted the team in the colours of the tricolour as most countries follow their flag and that was visible from afar. It would have been very easy for me to send them in zardozi vests. But it's not appropriate," Tahiliani said. He added that he and his team had only three weeks to prepare the costumes. "I can't weave handloom for 300 uniforms in that time. The shoes were brocade, brocade from Benares," he told NDTV. Tahiliani also slammed "armchair critics" who accused him of charging a heavy sum for crafting these designs. "This was paid for by Tasva. It was not done for a fee, it was done to support our athletes. Asking what I was paid for it just shows their mentality," he added. Among those criticising the designer, who made headlines of another sort entirely when he dressed American reality star Kim Kardashian for the Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant wedding, was former badminton star Jwala Gutta. "The garments which was made for the Indian contingent participating in <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> this time has been a huge disappointment!! (Especially when the designer was announced I had huge expectations) (sic)" she wrote, without mentioning Tahiliani's name. Gutta argued that not all women know how to wear a sari and that's why the designer should have crafted "pre draped" saris, which are a current trend. "The girls looked uncomfortable the blouse was of bad fit!! And second the colour and the print was so opposite of beautiful Indian!!! There was an opportunity for the designer to display the art of our culture through embroidery or hand paint!! "It was a work of absolute mediocrity and looked shabby!!! I really hope the sports family stops compromising on quality for our sportspersons looks on court and off court!!!! (sic)" Gutta wrote, posting photographs of herself from the 2016 Rio Olympics with fellow badminton players PV Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa and tennis star Rohan Bopanna. A user reshared her post and wrote: "Hello Tarun Tahiliani! I have seen better Sarees sold in Mumbai streets for Rs.200 than these ceremonial uniforms you've 'designed'. Cheap polyester like fabric, Ikat PRINT (!!!), tricolors thrown together with no imagination. Did you outsource it to an intern or come up with it in the last 3 minutes before the deadline? Such a disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India." There were others who were not too convinced either. Another user said designers for the Mongolia and Sri Lanka contingents did a better job dressing their teams. Others shared videos of the designs as reimagined by AI and wrote Tahiliani's design can be "easily replaced" by technology. One user said the kurtas were "creased", the blouse "poor fitting" and the sari was "not even white". "I don't know what Tarun Tahiliani was thinking while scribbling these pathetic uniforms, did our champions really bad. The women's saree look like 'before' shot in an Ujala Ad. While menswear, it's just looks a bit ..ringard if I may say in spirit of Paris! (sic)" commented another. According to Ashish Mukul, brand head, Tasva, the ceremonial attire for Team India is "crafted with a profound sense of national pride and an aim to balance tradition with modernity". In a statement, Mukul said the garments draw inspiration from the Indian flag, "symbolizing unity, and pride, which is one of the richest ways of representing India". He said the contemporary silhouettes, such as the Bundi jacket and pre-pleated sari, were carefully chosen to ensure "both comfort and functionality" for the athletes. "The fabrics, including cotton and viscose crepe, are selected for their practical and aesthetic qualities, as our athletes would be out in the open for almost 6 hours during the event. The use of Ikat-inspired prints and modern elements is a deliberate choice to reflect modern India. Our intention is to create an attire that represents India's rich heritage and ensure our athletes feel comfortable and confident," he added. Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu, who was one of the flag bearers of the Indian contingent along with table tennis legend A Sharath Kamal, had posted a series of pictures on X ahead of Friday's ceremony. "Paris 2024, flag bearer-one of the greatest honors of my life to hold our country's flag in front of millions," she wrote.

Tarun Tahiliani at centre of controversy over "mediocre" designs for Indian contingent at Olympics

With big names dropping out and participating sports contingent pruned, will India have an impressive medal haul at the 2014 <keyword id="84384" type="SPORT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Asian-Games">Asian Games</keyword>? The question is on the minds of many Indians who are looking forward to carve a niche for their country at the Asian Games, also known as Asiad, to be held at Incheon, South Korea between September 19 and October 4. 
 
The current contingent of Indian team will have 679 members, who have been selected out of a list of 942 members. Among the members who will be in South Korea for the games include 516 athletes, and 163 coaches and support staff. 
 Will the medal tally improve this time around? The question gains significance for India since it is a member of the South Asian Zone of the <keyword id="98294" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Olympic-Council-of-Asia">Olympic Council of Asia</keyword> (OCA) and has been participating in games since its inception (in 1951). India is among the first five founding members of Asian Games Federation, and has successfully hosted the event on two occasions in the history of Asiad Games – the inaugural round in 1951 and then later in 1982. 
 
The country is also among the only seven countries that have competed in all Asian Games editions, apart from countries such as Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Thailand. 
 
It must be some relief that India has ‘at least’ one gold medal at every Asian game, and has been ranked within top 10 nations of the medal tally except in the year 1990. In all, India has bagged 545 medals across sporting segments over the years in Asiad games. 
 
Though India is confident of bettering record from Guangzhou event held last in 2010, financial concerns and off field controversies are bound to impact the overall performance of the participating sportspersons. 
 
The cricket-worshipping nation has always held other sports in somewhat less important level when compared to the passion with which Indians follow them. India has made significant stride in improving its medal position from eighth in 2002 and 2006 Asian games, to sixth in the last Asiad in Guangzhou. This in some way has rekindled hopes of Indian sports enthusiasts. 
 
Clearly encouraged by the success of medal haul in the last common wealth games, the Indian Olympic Association had proposed a huge contingent of sportspersons to participate in the upcoming Asiad. 
 <keyword id="63032" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sports-Authority-of-India">Sports Authority of India</keyword> (SAI) resisted this and sought Prime Minister office’s intervention to create a more affordable and achievable team that could participate in the games and improve medal tally. In other words, SAI only wanted names of those who were highly capable of winning medals than those who would use it as a platform to hone their skills. Intervention done, the team size was brought down. Officials accompanying the sportspersons were also scaled down thus making the team leaner and efficiency oriented one compared to previous years. 
Now, what’s lacking is the presence of ‘star players’ and those big Indian names that have become brands in their chosen areas. 
 
India’s shooters are in super shape and SAI is hoping they would largely contribute to country’s medal-tally at the Asiad. Seasons tennis stars such as Somdev Devvarman, Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, and Rohan Bopanna have decided to give the game a miss, leaving a huge question mark on the medal part. Sqaush ace Dipika Pallikal, who earlier exuded confidence of bringing home a couple of medals, also expressed her displeasure at some not-so-healthy selection criteria of the games with her game partner Joshna Chinnappa. 
 
Top wrestler Sushil Kumar who became a legend of sorts after his astounding victory at last the Olympics will also be giving the Asiad a miss owing to his rigorous preparation for the Olympics games to be held in 2016. 
 Apart from shooters, India will now have to focus on shuttlers to bring home some glory; all our hopes are now on top seed players <keyword id="30618" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Saina-Nehwal">Saina Nehwal</keyword> and <keyword id="501707" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="PV-Sindhu">PV Sindhu</keyword>. 
 
While the chief complaint against India’s poor performance in sports is dues to less exposure to international sporting circuits and events, along with poor training facilities, it still remains to be seen whether a leaner contingent with less burden of ‘officials’ will overtake Guangzhou in medal tally. If that happens, India would have learnt a smarter lesson and can have a better sports future.

You Searched For "rohan bopanna" and got 6 results

India's tennis campaign at the Paris Olympics ends in a single day as Nagal, Bopanna and Balaji bow out

PTI

Asian Games: At Hangzhou, India on a quest for excellence and preparing for Paris 2024

IANS

Beginners’s guide to becoming the Wolf of the Indian ‘Wall Street’

Debdatta

Suchayan

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Comes To India

Nandini Sharma

Tarun Tahiliani at centre of controversy over "mediocre" designs for Indian contingent at Olympics

PTI

Pruned Indian Contingent At Asian Games: Will The Medal Haul Happen?

Preetam Kaushik

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