Commonwealth Games 2022: Here are 5 Indian athletes to watch out for in Birmingham
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India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
The 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham are all set to begin, and an exciting, promising and upcoming Indian Contingent is ready to present themselves on the big stage. With the Games starting on 28th July, a team of 215 athletes are in search of a medal, especially of the illusive yellow metal. India finished with an impressive 66 medals in 2018, and will be looking to further improve their record- especially as experienced players now join the group.
As Neeraj Chopra has pulled out the Commonwealth Games due to an injury after the World Championships, PV Sindhu is the flag bearer and probably India’s biggest gold medal hope. India also has other Olympic medallists in action, as well as a lot of upcoming talent. Here are 5 Indian athletes to watch out for at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
5 Indian athletes to watch out for at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
1. PV Sindhu- Badminton
Double Olympic Medallist PV Sindhu has had a cracking season this year. Sindhu is one of the strongest contenders in the running to win a medal- potentially a gold- at this year’s Games. The only Indian female athlete to win two medals in Olympics, Sindhu clinched a bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020. Sindhu also recently won the Singapore Open, to add to her ever growing laurels.
Also read: Badminton at the 2022 Commonwealth Games: Who will reign supreme?
2. Mirabai Chanu- Weightlifting
2021 Tokyo Olympic Silver medallist Mirabai Chanu is all prepared to get onto the Commonwealth stage to prove herself once again. Chanu will be looking to win her third straight medal in a row in her third CWG this year. She has already won a silver at the 2014 Glasgow games, and upgraded that to a gold at the 2018 Gold Coast CWGs. Both medals came for her in the 48kg category, and Chanu is looking to successfully defend her title this year.
3. Bajrang Punia- Wrestling
Olympic Bronze medallist Bajrang Punia is another trusted medallist to watch out for. The wrestler will be looking to defend his title from the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 65kg category. He also clinched a silver medal in the 2014 edition in the 61kg freestyle category. His promising performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics means that he is one of the strongest wrestlers to enter for the Indian contingent.
Also read: Cricket at Commonwealth Games 2022: When and where to watch, time, venue, squads & other details
Manika Batra- Tabletennis
India’s golden table tennis girl Manika Batra will be looking to bag another medal at the Commonwealth Games this year. Batra took the gold medal at the 2018 CWGs, and is expected to repeat her feat once again this year in 2022. Batra bagged an individual gold medal from the women’s singles, a team gold in the women’s team event, a silver from the women’s doubles (with Mouma Das) and a mixed doubles bronze with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran from the 2018 Games. She ended up medalling in all four events that she took part in- making her chances of getting another medal even higher.
5. Nikhat Zareen
Nikhat Zareen is an upcoming boxer, who is showing great talent in her sport. The youngster stormed onto the scene, taking the gold medal at the 2022 IBA World Boxing Championships. She also won the 2011 AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships held in Antalya. Zareen’s surprising win over Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas in the fly-weight final in Istanbul means she could stand a good chance of bagging a medal this year.
Also read: “India will miss him” – Neeraj Chopra to miss 2022 Commonwealth Games due to groin injury
Also read: WATCH: Indian women’s cricket team leave for Commonwealth Games 2022; receive warm send-offs
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Saivee Phatak
(1164 Articles Published)