India is sending a 57 member contingent at the Beijing Olympics and to the optimist, this seems to be the strongest set of players going to the Olympics in the recent times. India’s 17-member athletics contingent is spearheaded by ace long jumper Anju Bobby George and is the largest of all.

One look at the Shooters gives hope to a billion Indians with the likes of Athens Silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Commonwealth Gold Medallists Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang being part of this elite group of nine.

India will also be fielding its largest ever boxing team and of the quintet, Vijender looks the best bet, especially after his red hot form in recent past.

Though the Indian swimmers are yet to make a splash, as many as four of them would be part of the field in Beijing. The number is same in tennis as well where Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Sunitha Rao would have to live up to the expectation. The contingent will also include three grapplers and as many rowers. Two Indians each will represent the country in table tennis, judo and badminton, while weightlifting and yachting will have one each.

In archery after the controversy regarding the ouster of Reena Kumari, finally Dola Banerjee, Pranitha Vardhineni and L Bombayala Devi, apart from the lone male competitor in Mangal Singh Champia will be carrying their ‘bows & arrows’ in Beijing.

India contingent for the Beijing Olympics