Asian Games 2010: India Eyeing Big award Haul

The 16th Asian Games 2010 have been finally arrived. After the record success in Common Wealth Games, Indian athletes are eyeing big medal haul at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, which starts Friday (November 12). The finishing of Asian Games 2010 will be on 27th November.CWG 2010 has seen impressive performance by India and it raises hopes of an improvement at the Asian Games event. Indian finished second in the medals table with 38 gold medals in the CWG 2010 at New Delhi. Now, its time to show their talent at Asian Games 2010 but tougher contest awaits them in China.

In the previous Asian Games, four years ago, India stand eight in the medals table with 10 golds in its kitty. “The performance in Delhi has raised our hopes for the upcoming Asian Games. These are the same athletes who would be in action in Guangzhou and we hope to perform well,” Bhubaneswar Kalita, India’s chef-de-mission at the Common wealth Games, told reporters.The bulk of medals for India in the Asian Games are expected from Shooting, boxing and wrestling discipline, in which India has performed remarkably well in CWG.

According to reports, Gagan Narang, who won four gold medals in Delhi, will lead the shooting team. Commonwealth Games gold medallist and women’s badminton world number three Saina Nehwal is another hope for India. However, she will have to overcome fierce competition from the Chinese.On the darker side, Leander Paes, who won the two tennis gold medals – from men’s doubles and varied doubles in Doha is not participating in Asian Games 2010 and it will make it tough for India to win medals in this discipline.

In the Asian Games 2010, 476 gold medals are at stake and 45 countries from the largest continent on the planet are participating in the mega event. The games will be spread across 42 different sports for a period of 16 days. Guangzhou is the host city for the event. 3 other cities (Foshan, Shanwei and Dongguan) will also be co-hosting some of the events at this Asiad. Guangzhou has invested some 120 billion yuan into preparing for the 2010 Asian Games.