Indians to watch out for in the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Manavjit Singh Sandhu - Shooting (Clay Pigeon Trap - Men)

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award winner Manavjit Singh Sandhu is India's best medal bet at the Beijing Olympics in the men’s clay pigeon trap event. Sandhu was only the second Indian to win a World championship gold in August 2006.

Sandhu had an amazing 2006 as he won a bronze at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and followed it with two silvers at the Doha Asian games in December.

In his illustrious career, Sandhu also won the gold at 1998 Commonwealth Games and four silver medals at Asian Games during the period (1998, 2002, 2006).

Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore- Shooting (Clay Pigeon Double Trap - Men)

Olympic silver medallist Lt. Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is all geared up to strike at gold this time at the Beijing Olympics. Rathore sealed the Beijing berth by winning a gold medal in the men's double trap event at the 2006 ISSF World Cup at Cairo.

Earlier, Rathore claimed gold in the individual and team events in Men's double trap at the Bangkok Asian Clay Shooting championships in 2005. He was also the member of the winning team that won a double trap team gold in 2005 Commonwealth Shooting Championships.

Anju Bobby George - Athletics (Long Jump)

India's ace long-jumper Anju Bobby George marked his presence at the international arena after winning the bronze medal at the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris. Anju leaped a fair distance of 6.70 m at the championship and thus became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Championship.

Anju kept her performance graph soaring high as she went on to win the silver medal at the IAAF World Athletics in 2005. She achieved her personal best of 6.83 m at the 2004 Athens Olympics but had to content with sixth position.

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati - Tennis (Mens Doubles)

Estranged tennis duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes has once again put their differences aside for nation's sake as they decided to play for the country in quest of an Olympic gold in the Beijing Games.

Former world No. 1 pair Bhupathi and Paes claimed three Grand Slam doubles titles together between 1999 and 2001.

The pair also won the 2006 Asian Games gold and narrowly lost the bronze medal play-off in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The pair ruled the World doubles circuit by reaching the semi-finals of 3 grand slams, the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open.

India has the best chance to seal an Olympic medal with the 'Indian Express' pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes joined hands and returned to court for country's Olympic medal quest.

Dinesh Kumar - Boxing (-81 kg category)

Dinesh Kumar will make his Olympic debut after booking his Beijing berth in the light-heavyweight category. He earned his Olympic ticket in the Asian Boxing Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Dinesh had a tough time during his Olympic qualifying campaign as he lost to Zhang Xiaoping in his opening bout, but he bounced back to post two convincing victories in the next rounds to qualify even though he lost the tournament's final to Mehdi Ghorbani.

Sania Mirza - Tennis (Womens Singles)

Sania Mirza's meteoritic rise in the singles ranking has been a great achievement for the country's tennis sensation. India’s top-ranked tennis ace Sania has been given direct entry to the Beijing Olympics.

Sania, who has been battling with injury of late, will certainly be eager to make her mark by giving her best shot at the Olympics.

Sania became the first Indian woman tennis player to get seeding in any grand slam event. She had also become the first Indian to storm into the fourth round of a grand slam tournament at the 2005 U.S. Open

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