Mahesh Bhupati & Leander Paes are India's greatest doubles pair since the Amritraj siblings and were World's No 1 doubles pair when they decided to part ways. Coming after reaching the finals of all 4 Grand slam events (winning Wimbledon & French Open) in 1999 it was shattering for the entire nation. Since then their professional relationship hasn't been the same since the summer of 2001. They have played together for the nation in Davis Cup and have event won a Gold medal at the Doha Asian Games (2006) but personal clashes of these two exceptionally gifted athletes have ensured that the magic that propelled them to the top of ATP rankings and the final of all four Grand Slam events (a feat unparalleled since 1952) was never recaptured.

Just before the Beijing Olympics Bhupathi had shot a letter to the Indian tennis body (AITA) stating that he did not want to play with Paes in the Olympic games preferring to play with the rookie Rohan Bopanna instead. AITA somehow was able to diffuse the situation and persuaded both of them to play with each other again. But their now on-now off relationship is finally taking toll on their performances. They just had two tournaments to prepare for the big showdown in Beijing. In their first ATP tournament in 4 years they reached the final at Hertogenbosch, in the Netherlands. Indianapolis was their last preparatory tournament for the Beijing Olympic Games. Here they were billed as the favourites to win but instead they were knocked out in the very first round. It can be said that they will be playing in Beijing going more by the past association rather than current form. But the fact is if they are able to recapture even the half of their lost 'magic', no team will be able to stop them to end with a podium finish.

Akhil Kumar got thrashed (16-37) at the hands of Frenchman Jerome Thomas on his Olympic debut in the Athens Olympics. Since then Akhil has won back to back Commonwealth events, including the gold at 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the 54kg bantamweight category. The fact that it was only India's second ever CWG boxing gold highlighted the gravity of Akhil’s achievement. This journeyman from the dustbowl of Bhiwani is the senior most boxer in the Indian boxing contingent that is going to Beijing. His experience has meant that he has been through a lot, from first round exit at the Olympics to a career threatening wrist injury. But he has hung in their, fight his demons, from within and outside. During an year long break (enforced by the wrist injury) in 2007 he wasn’t even sure of the fact that he will be able to go to Beijing but by beating the Athens Olympics silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand he marked his return on the international arena and raised hope of a miracle in Beijing. We think he has a good chance to make his mark, if not win a medal.

Every Indian is convinced that this Olympics at least one medal is sure to be credited in India’s account and it will be the man from Indian army who carries the mantle of keeping the tri-colour flying high in the Beijing skyline. Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the Silver medalist from the 2004 Athens games, is again being touted as one of the best in the field and why not? Had an unfriendly gust of wind not taken the clay target away Rathore, he would have become India's first individual gold medalist in 2004 Athens Olympics. But its never too late to make amends and Chilly Rathore, as he is fondly known as, will be all geared up to do just that.

Post Athens he hasn’t just pondered over the laurels he received from the entire nation. He has gone ahead and done what he does best, shoot targets and win medals. He took the gold in the individual and team events in Men's double trap at the 2005 Asian Clay Shooting championships at Bangkok. Again in 2005 Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Melbourne, Rajyawardhan Rathore was the member of the winning Indian team in the double trap event. In Beijing he undoubtedly will be India’s best medal bet and even the world acknowledges it as he was the only Indian in the Times’ list of ‘100 Olympians to watch out for’.

The was first Indian shooter to win a World Championship gold when a prolonged purple patch saw him shooting down everything that came within the range of his rifle. Bindra won six gold medals at various international meets in the European Circuit that year which made the Govt of India confer him with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Since then he hasn’t looked back and has performed consistently on the Olympic circuit but its luck that has deserted him. Despite breaking the Olympic record Bindra failed to win a medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Since then Abhinav Bindra has had an excellent run that saw him winning the World championship gold in Zagreb in July 2006, topping the table in a field of 122 shooters in air rifle. It also secured a berth for his third successive Olympics.