Commonwealth Games 2022: India’s top medal contenders

Right after obtaining reached their most effective-ever effectiveness at Olympic Video games in Tokyo past calendar year, India will be geared up to place their finest foot ahead at the Commonwealth Game titles, commencing July 28 in Birmingham.

With the Asian Video games postponed to 2023, India’s major sporting heroes will be in Birmingham, hoping their finest to win the nation laurels. India received as several as 66 medals, together with 26 gold medals, to finish 3rd in the 2018 Commonwealth Video games in Gold Coastline, Australia — which was also their 2nd-best exhibiting at the Online games given that India won 101 medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Video games in 2010.

Even so, with taking pictures eliminated from the checklist of athletics for the future Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, India’s medal tally is probable to choose a beating. Notably, India have 135 medals out of 503 received across all editions of CWG in capturing.

Even so, all eyes will be on India’s climbing heroes as the nation appears to be like to make a mark in Birmingham in the future couple times. IndiaToday.in usually takes a look at the county’s most important medal potential customers for CWG 2022 in Birmingham.

Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra is India’s largest gold medal hope at CWG 2022 (Picture Courtesy: Instagram)

India’s greatest gold medal hope for the Commonwealth Video games is definitely the Tokyo Olympics hero Neeraj Chopra. The javelin throw star has been warming up to the Games in Birmingham by breaking his very own national records at will. He will be keen on retaining the gold medal that he won in 2018.

The Haryana athlete broke his personal national history at the Diamond League in Stockholm in June as he registered a personal finest throw of 89.94m. The Tokyo Olympic gold medalist skipped the 90m mark by a whisker but he will be pushing himself to end on the best action of the podium.

Neeraj, who will compete at the Athletics World Championships just before he heads to Birmingham, will facial area a rigid check from reigning earth winner Anderson Peters. who has a season-ideal throw of 93.07m. Notably, Peters completed in advance of Neeraj in the Stockholm Diamond League with another 90-furthermore throw.

Peters had finished with the bronze in the 2018 CWG with a throw of 82.20m while Neeraj took gold with a throw of 86.47m.

PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu seems to be to gain her maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal (AP Image)

India’s badminton stars will be hoping to make merry at the Commonwealth Online games. Right after the men’s team’s results in Thomas Cup, the Asian giants will be searching to defend the blended crew gold medal that they won in 2018.

India is not going to have the 2018 women’s singles gold medalist Saina Nehwal but the concentration will be on PV Sindhu, who is seeking to gain her 3rd straight CWG medal after a bronze in 2014 and silver in 2018.

Sindhu, compared with on the tour, will not experience rigid exams but she will continue to keep an eye on the likes of Kirsty Gilmour and Michelle Li.

Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy will be hunting to make the most of their modern kind at CWG but they will deal with stiff checks from Loh Kean Yew and Lee Zii Jia in the men’s singles subject.

The doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are also in competition to acquire a gold medal in Birmingham.

Mirabai Chanu

India are 1 of the most prosperous nations when it comes to weightlifting at the Commonwealth Game titles with 125 medals in the record of the Games.

Indian weightlifters reigned supreme in the 2018 Gold Coast Game titles, bringing residence a prosperous haul of nine medals such as 5 golds. With 15 weightlifters heading to Birmingham, India will be hoping for another effective showing from the contingent.

Mirabai Chanu is just about a certainty to get a gold medal in Birmingham, which will be her 3rd CWG medal.

Mirabai’s private finest in the women’s 49kg stands at 207kg (88kg snatch and 119kg cleanse and jerk). Her nearest rival, Nigeria’s Stella Kingsley’s most effective hard work to day is 168kg (72kg and 96kg) and so authorized lifts is all that Mirabai requires.

The Indian is knowledgeable of the discipline at CWG but she mentioned she will be competing with herself and glance to established new records in Birmingham.

“CWG is fairly uncomplicated for me, I will be battling with myself. We have prepared to elevate 91kg or 92kg (snatch) at the CWG. With any luck ,, it will materialize,” Mirabai had informed PTI news agency.

Ravi Dahiya

Ravi Dahiya experienced flown below the radar ahead of the Tokyo Olympics but manufactured heads turn with his silver-medal-winning effectiveness last calendar year. The bonafide wrestling star qualified for the Commonwealth Game titles in the 57kg category by successful the nationwide trials in New Delhi.

Ravi has warmed up for the CWG by successful a gold medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

All eyes will also be on Bajrang Punia, who will appear to retain his Commonwealth Games title and get his 3rd medal in the Games. Bajrang gained a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics but the wrestler will want to signal his intentions for Paris 2024 with a powerful present in Birmingham.

Nikhat Zareen

Planet Champion Nikhat Zareen will search to acquire her maiden CWG medal (PTI Image)

Nikhat Zareen is exhibiting a good deal of guarantee to turn out to be the future significant boxing celebrity from India. The younger pugilist is heading to Commonwealth Games to contend in the 50kg category and it’s a excellent chance for her to arise out of Mary Kom’s shadows.

Nikhat could not have asked for much better preparations as the Telengana boxer won the planet championships title in Istanbul in May, months right after she gained a historic 2nd gold medal at Strandja Memorial Match.

Alongside with Nikhat, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain will also be hunting to incorporate to India’s medal tally in boxing in Birmingham. Lovlina will contend in the 70kg group at CWG 2022.

Manika Batra

Manika Batra designed a frenzy when she rallied in opposition to odds and received a historic gold medal in women’s singles in Gold Coast 4 decades ago. The star paddler, with far more expertise and composure by her facet, will be seeking to protect her crown in Birmingham.

With Manika in the fray for the crew activities as effectively, India will also be hoping for sturdy exhibiting from G Sathiyan who is building rapid strides at the maximum degree and the veteran Sharath Kamal, who will be hoping to include to his tally of 8 CWG medals.

— Finishes —