Rio 2016: First class!

Competing at the Olympic Games is every sportsperson’s dream, and they push the physical limits in tune with the Olympic motto of faster, higher, stronger. It’s unbridled ecstasy when they finally make the cut for the quadrennial competition. This year a tenacious gymnast, a spirited sprinter, a determined golfer, and some strong-willed shuttlers are among the Indians who will make their debut at the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza in Rio.

The plucky pack has broken barriers and set fascinating firsts in their respective fields as they take their first shots at the coveted medals. Dipa Karmakar vaulted her way to becoming the first Indian female gymnast ever at the Olympic Games. Dutee Chand ran like the wind to be the first from the country to meet qualification standards and reserve her lane on the high profile 100 metres race track.

Aditi Ashok will proudly wear the tag of being the first Indian woman golfer at the Olympics for the rest of her life. Shuttlers B. Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri are India’s first men’s doubles pair at the Olympics while P.V. Sindhu ensured India will have two women’s singles badminton players at the Olympics for the first time along with Saina Nehwal.

Dutee has literally risen from dust. Born into a poor family of weavers, she has always been running. Off the track, she has had to fight the odds. She was barred from competing in the women’s category because of hyperandrogenism — excessive but naturally occurring testosterone levels. It took an international court ruling to overturn that ban. Now, she just wants to make a dash to Rio. “I am just too thrilled to be competing at the biggest stage. This is what you dream about as an athlete. If I win a medal, I’d go crazy,” the 20-year-old chuckles.

Dipa has been dancing with danger in the gymnastics hall. The perilous Produnova — a double frontal vault — fetches most points but can make or literally break an athlete if wrongly executed. The 22-year-old is unfazed though. “I know the Produnova vault is risky, but I have been doing it for two years. I will try to do better at the Olympics,” she says unflinchingly.

For 17-year-old Aditi, the Games are all green. “As a golfer, you don’t imagine that you can ever win an Olympic medal but now it is possible,” she says with a giggle.

For people like Sindhu, a debutant, who is well-versed with pressure at world events, she feels, “Being at the Olympics is a huge honour but I am relatively at ease as I will be facing players whom I have likely played against before,” says the 21-year-old.

Fellow shuttler Sumeeth is still in dreamland. “Last year we (Manu Attri and he) were World No 40 and had to climb into the top 20 to qualify. Thanks to our good run of late, we actually made it comfortably at No 11,” he exulted.

That has put a spring in their steps. “The intensity in our game has gone up several notches and we have beaten Olympic medal contenders in different tournaments,” he beams.

The tried, tested & ready While the young blood is restless in their quest for greater glory, the golden oldies know very well that it’s steely nerves that matter the most when the stakes are high. Seasoned Leander Paes takes the lead on that front. The 43-year-old tennis ace will be at his record seventh Olympics, playing the men’s doubles alongside Rohan Bopanna after having won India’s lone tennis medal at the Games — a singles bronze at Atlanta 1996.

Following Paes is sharp shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s only individual gold medal, at Beijing 2008. Turning up for his fifth Olympics in Rio, the 33-year-old will look to blast the bullseye to bits. Fellow shooters Gagan Narang (33) and Manavjit Sandhu (39) provide him experienced company at the ranges. Both are into their fourth Games with Gagan having shot a bronze medal at London 2012.

Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, a bronze medallist at the London Games, and discus thrower Vikas Gowda are the other 33-year-olds who are into their fourth flings with the Olympic flame. They will hope the romance continues.