Wrestler Sushil Kumar emerges as front-runner to be India's flag bearer at London Olympics

Olympic bronze-medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar has emerged as the front-runner to be India's flag bearer at the London Olympics opening ceremony, says a report in The Indian Express. Besides Sushil, the Indian Olympic Association had shortlisted Beijing Olympics gold-medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, bronze-medallists boxer Vijender Singh and tennis veteran Leander Paes for the flag bearer's role in London.

But since Vijender might have a bout to fight the morning after the opening ceremony on July 27 and Bindra would also be occupied with his shooting assignment, it could be either Sushil or Paes. However, since Paes has got the honour in a previous edition of the Olympics, Sushil might get to lead the Indian contingent out in London.

Meanwhile, ace marksman Manavjit Singh Sandhu on Monday said that Abhinav Bindra's gold-winning feat in the 2008 Beijing Olympics would be the rallying point for Indian shooters in their quest to produce a better performance in the upcoming London Games.

Sandhu, a former trap world champion, said that Indian shooters would win more than one medal in the July 27-August 12 Olympics, as the country would be represented by the "best ever team", says a report in Indian Express.

"The shooting team has a mix of youngsters and experienced people. Most of us are in top form and we are well . I can say this is the best Indian shooting team in Olympics and so definitely we will perform better than in Beijing," he said.

"I can't say we will win two gold medals. Abhinav won a gold in Beijing and of course that will be our rallying point. I am sure this time it will be better than Beijing," he added.

Sandhu felt that Indian shooting had changed a lot for the better in the last eight years since he took part in the Olympics for the first time in Athens.  "Indian shooting has changed a lot. We have world beaters now and we have lots of experienced shooters. Personally, I have also changed in experience, confidence and technique since my first Olympics in 2004," said the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee.

Meanwhile V. Diju is delighted that he has made it the London Olympics. “It has been a dream to play at the Olympics and now I am dreaming of a medal,” Diju, who will partner G. Jwala in the mixed doubles, told The Hindu here on Monday. He had come home to Ramanattukara, a small town near here, a few days ago from Hyderabad, where the India badminton team is camped.

Diju and Jwala are currently ranked No. 13 in the world. “If we create an upset or two, we could win a medal in London,” Diju said. “And we have had success in the past against the world’s top teams such as Xu Chen and Ma Jin. So, if we bring out our best, a medal is not beyond us.”