London Dreams: 10 Indian Olympians FHM Was Betting On

FHM met the athletes who we are expecting a podium finish from. Not even in our wildest dreams had we imagined India topping the medal tally at any athletic meet, but considering the recent performances of our athletes set to represent India in London, chances are bright that they wouldn’t return home with just a bronze or two this time.

Vijender Singh

Our hopes for a boxing medal lie in India’s poster boy and Beijing Olympic bronze medalist – Vijender Singh. The hero of the 2008 Olympics is back to improve his last performance and tell us how things have changed…

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Are you a better athlete now than you were four years ago?

We all have grown so much since then. This edition will certainly be better than ever. We are in good shape.

Is the pressure building?

If you’re really focused, you’ll remain calm.

What can we expect from our country’s contingent?

We’ve been competing regularly at international events, so we have the experience. Indian boxers are no longer weak because we’ve done well. Our graph is at an all-time high and opponents dread us.

How do you remain mentally fit?

I meditate and keep visualising my bouts.

Which is the strongest team out there?

Russia and Cuba.

You recently said, ‘I want to be the Sachin Tendulkar of boxing’…

Because he represents excellence and vigour.

Jai Bhagwan

The unsung hero of Indian boxing plans to settle for nothing less than gold and going by the confidence he oozed during a chat with FHM, we are sure that this boxer will come back with medals. Excerpts...

Have you set a goal for yourself for the Games?

My aim is nothing less than a gold.

What does one need to win a game?

A good mix of technique, presence of mind and versatility in your punches.

Which according to you is the strongest team?

China is said to be the strongest team.

How did you react to the loss in the preliminary of the Kazakhstan President’s Cup?

We win some matches, and we lose some. If a win makes you proud, a loss reminds you that you still need to work harder. My loss just made me want to work and train harder for the Olympics.

Have you ever cheated in the ring?

Boxing is a sport and keeping that spirit in mind is always important.

Who is your favourite boxing legend?

Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali.

Devendro Singh

His standing on the international boxing scene got a push when he brushed aside his higher-ranked opponent Carlos Quipo of Ecuador at the World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. India’s entrant in the 49kg category talks about life in the ring and outside…

Everyone is talking about you. Like that?

It’s good to know that people have faith in me.

Your biggest achievement till date?

Qualifying for the London Olympics, as well as my performance at the Commonwealth.

How rigorously have you been training for the sporting gala?

We all are fanatics with our training regimes, which change on a weekly basis now. After returning from the qualifiers we took no time in getting back to a heavy schedule.

Since you are one of the youngest in the team, you must be getting a lot of tips from others?

Oh yes! I do get tips on stamina, weight management and everything else that would improve my performance.

Have you spotted your toughest competitor and team?

Birzhan Zakipov of Kazakhstan. He is experienced and skilled. Even the Russians are extremely strong.

Sumit Sangwan

When the 19-year-old boxer dished out a power packed punch on Jordan’s Ihab Almatdault in the 81 kg category to become the seventh Indian to qualify for this Olympics, there were celebrations in the Indian camp because it ensured that India was sending its biggest ever boxing contingent to the London Olympics…

Tell us about that moment when you defeated Ihab?

I was blessed to be at the right place at the right time and my hard work paid off.

Does training get tough at times?

Right now it’s very tough, but that’s what’s required at a competition like this.

What brings a smile to your face?

Friends, good music, and my mom’s cooking.

Have you ever been unprofessional in the ring?

Yes, when I was learning boxing from my brother. In one fight he was my opponent and we kept fighting because we had fought about something at home and refused to leave each other until my dad interfered. My brother still teases me on that, but he’s my boxing idol.

Manoj Kumar

He not only made his village, Rajound (Haryana), popular but also made India proud at several international sports meets like the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The 25-year-old boxer who holds great promise at the London Olympics gets talking about boxing and a little thing called life.

When did you first pick up a boxing glove?

In Rajound, everyone gets into boxing young, so I’ve grown up with it. Even my brother was a boxer. Since all my cousins and relatives were into boxing, I thought of taking it up professionally.

Do you keep tabs on the scoreboard during games?

It doesn’t matter who I’m fighting, I don’t look at the scoreboard. I just play my best.

Your recent loss in the quarterfinals of Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup was unexpected…

I’ll compensate for it at the London Olympics.

We hear you idolise Sunny Deol?

I’m very fond of him because I watch his films regularly. For boxing, Mike Tyson and my elder brother inspire me.

What is that one thing you’d like to assure us?

I want you to know we Indians are no less and we’ll put up a good fight.

Shiva Thapa

The boxer’s won his first major international award at a junior competition in Azerbaijan at age 15. A year later, he bagged bronze at the 2009 Junior World Boxing Championship and then repeated his success story at 17 when he won a silver medal at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. The 18-year-old Olympian spoke to us about representing his country...

You must be happy representing India at the London games...

I’ll be happier if I win a medal for my country.

As the youngest member of the Indian boxing team, you must be the most pampered?

I appreciate the advice given to me and I understand that it comes from their experience as they are well-wishers.

Is boxing all about power?

It’s much more of a mind game involving strategy.

How do you decide which body part to attack?

There isn’t a specific area. It depends on the height of my opponent and his game.

Parupalli Kashyap

His consistency has made him the blue-eyed boy of Indian Badminton and the Hyderabad shuttler proved his mettle yet again when he quashed top seed Chen Long of China in the Indonesia Open badminton tournament quarterfinals. He gets candid in a chat…

You were pretty impressive when you made it to the semis of the India Open Super Series. Will we see the same fire at the Olympics?

You can be rest assured that we will put in our best.

A climb up the ranking ladder this year then?

Last year, I was at 24, but I think now it’ll be 22. I’ve seen myself rise and fall, but right now it’s important to maintain this position.

Most cherished moment on court?

The Olympic qualifiers.

Do you think people will be glued to Olympics?

Sporting events like Commonwealth and the exposure that other sports have been getting these days will get people will be interested.

Doubles anytime soon?

No. For now I want to focus on singles because that’s where I have to excel.

Ashwini Ponnappa

If you go by the popularity her batchmates – Saina Nehwal and Jwalla Gutta – enjoy, Ashwini is still an underdog, but the cute shuttler is as fierce as her contemporaries and London will testify her mettle…

Is the pressure building?

Yes, but my family and music help me stay calm. It’s positive pressure because it’s from people who expect something from me.

You’ve teamed up with Jwala regularly. How has that been?

She’s a really wonderful and confident person. She’s the best at the net and her opponents normally don’t know how hard she’s gonna hit that shuttle.

Are there moments on court when mutual understanding doesn’t work?

We strategise every shot, but confusion is bound to happen in a game. We understand each others’ moves and that’s why we’ve performed so well till now.

Do you compare yourself with contemporaries?

No. Everyone’s great in their game and I try my best to be good at mine and keep trying to outdo myself.

Any particular favourite?

All of them are talented.

Sandeep Sejwal

He not just holds the national records for the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke events, but was also the first Indian swimmer to break into the top 100 in the 2008 FINA World Rankings in two events – 100 and 200m breaststroke. Excerpts from our conversation with the first Indian breaststroke swimmer to qualify for the Olympics.

How have you progressed since the CWG?

That was a while ago and I’ve trained hard since then and participated in big meets hoping to perform better in the future.

Do we see you on the podium again?

It’s the ultimate dream for any athlete, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. I’ve been training with the aim of winning an Olympic medal for years now and hope to win it for India some day.

Who’s the strongest team out there?

There’s no such thing as the strongest team. It’s all about dealing with the expectations of having to perform well at the highest level. On a given day, whosoever handles the pressure better comes out strongest.

Sushil Kumar

He may not have the looks to grab a lot of advertising contracts, but the 2008 Olympic bronze medal winner has everything that makes him unbeatable. We find out why…

Who do you look upto?

Inspiration comes from every sporting legend, but it’s got to be Dara Singhji.

What’s on your mind when you’re wrestling?

I just want to bring my opponent down.

You mentioned your brief training stint at the US Olympic Center in Colorado Springs helped you a lot…

Any training away from home field is good exposure and teaches you a lot. I picked up a few helpful techniques when I was there.

Have you ever resorted to an unprofessional approach to win?

No. We’re playing a sport, so we have to be professional, and I’m not out there to harm my opponent. It’s only about how skillfully I play.

How have you been preparing for the big matches?

I’m doing everything needed to achieve the goals I have set for myself. Lets hope it bears fruit.

India at the Olympics

• 1900: The year when India was first represented, in the Paris Olympics, by Anglo Indian Norman Pritchard who was holidaying in the city during that time. He bagged two silver medals in 200m.
• 1920: The year India first sent a team to the Olympics.
• 6: Successive gold medals won by the Indian hockey team from 1928-1956.
• 2008: The year Abhinav Bindra won India’s first ever individual gold medal and the total tally of medals at the Beijing Olympics went up to 3.
• 20: That’s the total number of medals won by India at the Olympics to date.

Courtesy: Percept Talent and PlayRight. Illustrations: Varun Bhardwaj.

From the July 2012 issue of FHM India.