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India's VVS Laxman announces retirement from cricket
Views ::2007 HYDERABAD, India � Veteran Indian batsman Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday, saying it was time to make way for the next generation.

"I am retiring with immediate effect. I think this is the right time to move on," the stylish middle-order batsman, who turns 38 in November, told reporters in his home city of Hyderabad.

"I have always kept the country's success ahead of personal aspirations. I think it is time to give youngsters a chance at home ahead of a tough season.

Laxman, better known by his initials VVS, played 134 Tests since his debut in 1996, scoring 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97 with 17 centuries and 56 fifties.

He also scored 2,338 runs in 86 one-day internationals with six hundreds, but had not been part of India's limited-overs squad since 2006.

Laxman decided to call it a day even though he was included in the Indian squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand starting in front of home fans in Hyderabad on Thursday.

"Till last night I was unable to make up my mind, but in the end I listened to my inner voice and arrived at my decision to retire," he said.

"I informed the chairman of selectors (Krishnamachari Srikkanth) this morning that I am not going to continue playing for India. I also spoke to many of my team-mates.

"They were surprised that I was retiring before the series. It was all very emotional."

Laxman was retained for the Kiwi matches despite failing miserably in the last two Test series in England and Australia, both of which India lost 4-0 and were dethroned as the number one side.

He managed just 182 runs in four Tests in England at an average of 22.75 and fared even worse in Australia with 155 runs in four matches at 19.37.

"No one likes to lose, so of course it was very disappointing to lose those two series very badly," said Laxman. "But it happens in sport. Hopefully, the team will avenge those defeats this season."

Both England and Australia are due to play four Tests each in India on either side of the new year.

Laxman is best known for his majestic 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in March 2001, when India turned the tables on the world champions after being made to follow-on 274 runs behind.

When India struggled at 232-4 in the second innings and faced certain defeat, Laxman and Rahul Dravid (180) put on a match-winning partnership of 376 to help their team post 657-7 declared.

Steve Waugh's Australians, set a target of 384 runs, folded up for 212 in their second knock, following a six-wicket haul by Harbhajan Singh, to leave India improbable victors by 171 runs.

Laxman's 10-hour masterclass which contained 44 boundaries is often regarded as the best match-winning innings played by an Indian batsman.

Laxman is the fourth senior Indian cricketer to retire in the last four years, leaving batting master Sachin Tendulkar the last of the veterans to hold fort in a period of transition.

Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly retired within a month of each other in 2008, while Dravid called it quits in March this year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) paid glowing tributes to Laxman, saying he was an "exceptional cricketer, who excelled in pressure situations".

"Not many batsmen made batting look as easy as VVS Laxman," BCCI president Narayanaswamy Srinivasan said in a statement.

"If a cricketer's greatness is to be measured in terms of his performances against the best opposition of his time, then Laxman stands right at the top.

"Indian cricket-lovers, and the game of cricket itself, will miss him for the elegance and grace that he epitomised, on and off the field." .

New T20 look: Tricolour on the heart for Team India
Views ::231 Mumbai: An Indian cricketer will now not wear his heart on his sleeve. Rather, if he pulls on a Twenty20 India shirt, it will be tricolour that paints a swathe across the left half of his jersey. On Thursday, August 16, Nike, who are the Board of Control for Cricket in India's kit sponsor, unveiled the Indian team's first specialist T20 jersey.

Just as whites are indisputably linked to Test cricket, and blue to the 50-over game, the Indian team now has a shirt specifically for the T20 format. "Once I wear the national jersey, I automatically know that I have to give my best," said Virender Sehwag. "Having the national flag's colours close to the heart is a good idea. After all, someone like me, who plays from the heart, will only feel better for it."

The critical difference, apart from the visual, in this jersey, which is made from the equivalent of eight P. E. T bottles, is that it's 45% lighter than the kit the Indian team has been wearing thus far. "We're going to be playing T20s at home, in South India, and in Sri Lanka, where even when you bat 15-20 minutes and hit a couple of boundaries you break into a sweat. Any help we can get is welcome," said Sehwag.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was welcoming of the new shirt. "It's a very good start. Even when people are swapping between channels on television they see white and know that it's Test cricket," he said. "Now there will be a strong association between this jersey and T20 cricket."

Dhoni also said that he was aware that expectations would reach typically high levels as India begin a packed season and that includes the ICC World T20. "We've had nearly a month and a half off and even when we played in Sri Lanka recently we have enough gaps between matches," said Dhoni. "The time off has given us a chance to be mentally and physically fit. If you look ahead at the packed schedule you will feel there is a lot of cricket ahead. The better thing is to take it a bit more short term and look at what you need to do in the next 15 days."

The biggest applause of the day was reserved for Yuvraj Singh, who will make his comeback to the Indian team in the first T20I against New Zealand at Vishakhapatnam on September 8. "I am feeling a bit nervous. I've been working really hard at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for the last couple of months," said Yuvraj. "But I haven't played for India in a year. In some ways it will feel like I'm playing for India for the first time."

Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan and Virat Kohli were the others who showed off the new jersey, and Yuvraj showed that he had recovered sufficiently from his illness to get up to his old tricks. "Virat has been in great form in the recent past," quipped Yuvraj. "I hope he can continue that both on and off the field."

While some questions have been asked about Yuvraj returning to international duty before getting some rigorous match practice under the belt, it was obvious that his team-mates were just overjoyed to have him back. "Yuvi is a very important character to have around, not just an important player," said Dhoni. "Without him the dressing-room is a bit boring, even though Virat was trying his best to keep things light and ensure that the newcomers settled in quickly. Now we'll have a healthy competition between Virat and Yuvi, to see who is the best at ragging, and that can only be a good thing."

While some questions have been asked about Yuvraj returning to international duty before getting some rigorous match practice under the belt, it was obvious that his team-mates were just overjoyed to have him back. "Yuvi is a very important character to have around, not just an important player," said Dhoni. "Without him the dressing-room is a bit boring, even though Virat was trying his best to keep things light and ensure that the newcomers settled in quickly. Now we'll have a healthy competition between Virat and Yuvi, to see who is the best at ragging, and that can only be a good thing."
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Sushil Kumar: Olympic Silver for the Indian wrestler
Views ::211 London: He was suffering from de-hydration and a stomach bug by the time he came out for his final bout. On a day which saw him battle past renowned wrestlers, India's Sushil Kumar braved his illness to put up a valiant fight against Japan's Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu, falling eventually to come out second best.

Sushil fought against three opponents before meeting Yonemitsu, the second taking the biggest toll on him. He had a gap of a few hours, came out looking slightly pale but while the final scoreline reflected a score of 1-3 against him, it failed to show the determination and will of the wrestler to earn a win, seen at ground level. In his final defeat though, an unwell Sushil managed to show winning spirit. "Injuries are part and parcel of the sport," he told media after the bout.

The 5 foot 5 inch tall, wrestler from Najafgarh in Haryana also managed to create history by becoming the first Individual Indian to win a medal in two consecutive Olympic Games. He had won a Bronze in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh congratulated him on his win while Union Minister tweeted that he saluted Sushil's fighting spirit. "Sushil Kumar is the first Indian Olympian to win medals in consecutive Olympics,the country salutes him," he wrote. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit announced a reward of Rs. One crore while Haryana Chief Minister announced a prize of Rs. 1.5 crore.

The wrestler, who competes in the 66 kg men's division, had a bye in the first round. In the pre-quarter, he started in style, beating the reigning Olympic champion Ramazan Sahin of Turkey on superior technical points. His quarter-final bout against Ikhtiyor Navruzov of Uzbekistan was a tricky affair and Sushil had to dig in deep. He won the first round but the Uzbek took the second. The diminutive Indian then first displayed attractive wrestling to take the third round and win the bout on higher technical points.

His next opponent, Akzhurek Tanatarov of Kazakhstan had earlier beaten him in the Asian qualifications in Kazakhstan and it was a revenge match of sorts for the Indian. Back then, Sushil Kumar had not even qualified for the London Olympics and that loss was a bitter one as Yogeshwar Dutt and Amit Kumar, both managed to qualify before Sushil.

But in the London Olympics, nothing was to stop Sushil. He won the first round in the semi-final quite comfortably by three points to nil. Tanatarov made a strong come back to take the second period 3-0 and thus level the match. In the third round, the Kazakh was leading 3-0 at one point when Sushil had to bring in all his experience and guile to first level the round, and then clinch it with seconds to go.

Sushil, who lead the Indian contingent at the London Olympics 2012, has been representing India since he was 18, but the country woke up to him when he finished with a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He became only the second Indian wrestler after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, who had won a Bronze for India in 1952 at the Helsinki Games, to win an Olympic medal.

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"Its Time You Cheer" Theme Song: Support India at London 2012 Olympic Games
Views ::229 "Its Time You Cheer" is a song composed by Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire asking Indians to Cheer for their Stars at London 2012 Olympic Games. Sing along and show your support by sharing with your friends and family.

Lyrics:

Aap agar....saath hai.....
toh zindagi .....saath hai....!!

aap agar....saath hai.....
toh jeet bhi saath hain....!!!

ik jazbaa dil mein hai.....
ik sapnaa aankhon mein
meri manzil saamne khaddi....

badi mushkil raahein thi
par dil mein chaahein thi
lo faisle ki aa gayee ghadi....

aap agar....saath hai.....
toh zindagi saath hai!!

aap agar saath hai
toh jeet bhi saath hain....

dil mein ehsaas hai khaas hai....
humse ummeedein lagi

duniyaa se aaj hum to takrayenge
agar har dil apne saath ho........

har ummeed aapki
har armaan aapka
viswaason ko hum kandhe pe liye

duniyaa se ladenge
aage hi badhenge
himmat le ke hum to chal diye....

aap agar saaath hai
toh darr ki kyaa baat hai

aap agar saath hai
mushkilon pe maat hai

aap agar saath hai
zindagi saath hai

aap agar saath hai
jeet bhi saath hain.... .

London 2012 Shooting: I stuck to my plans, says Silver medalist Vijay Kumar
Views ::191 London:
Vijay Kumar has fetched India a Silver. It's first at the London Olympics, its second individual Silver in any Olympics in the last 100 years. (MatchCentre)

As the Indian shooter took focused aim for his final series of five shots in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event today, he knew even a perfect five would not fetch him the Gold. The difference between him and Cuba's Leuris Pupo was unbridgeable. Seconds ago Pupo had shot a five to get him to an unassailable 34. (Congratulate him)

Speaking to NDTV, the Silver medal winner said: "There was a lot of pressure on me and I am happy that I have won a medal in my first Olympics."

Although Vijay Kumar's last round was not spectacular as he could shoot only two out of the possible five. But the Siver was his. And India's.

"I stuck to my plans and executed them well," he added.

To get that eighth round of shooting versus Pupo, Vijay had first qualified for the final with a score of 285 and then shot 28 in the first seven rounds. He finished with 30. The 26-year-old army subedar from Himachal Pradesh found the target 30 times out of 40 attempts in the series comprising eight rounds of five shots each.

Kumar dedicated his medal to his state and said: "My medal will be a big boost for the state of Himachal Pradesh."

Vijay Kumar started with a bang, hitting the target all five times and kept himself in the hunt for a medal by consistently finding the target. After a perfect five out of five at the start, Kumar, a double gold medallist in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, found the target four times in the second and third series, but missed it twice in the fourth.

He came back strongly by finding the target four times in the next three rounds and assured himself of a silver. In the last round after Pupo shot four to clinch the gold, Kumar seemed to relax a bit and missed three targets.

Feng Ding of China took the bronze medal.

In the final, Kumar was assured of a medal after the elimination of the trio of Russia's Alexei Klimov (23), Jian Zhang (17) and Christian Reitz (13) leaving himself, Pupo and Feng in the fray.

The silver was in his bag when Feng missed twice in the seventh round and Kumar replied with four.

Kumar had earlier lifted the Indian shooting team's spirit after the flop show by Gagan Narang, who failed to qualify for the final of the 50m Rifle Prone, by entering the finals of his event through the preliminaries.

Russia's Alexei Klimov, who provided all of India with a flutter and a heartbreak earlier in the day, created a new world record with his qualifying score of 592, but he was eliminated in the sixth series. For Vijay Kumar did better the Olympic record of 583 with his combined 585 in both stages of qualification.

But Alexei Klimov had already created a new World Record with his 592; the previous world record was 583.

India's only other success in these Olympics is also a shooting medal, a bronze won by ace Gagan Narang in the 10m Air Rifle event.

Minutes after Kumar's win, his father, a retired Army subedar, said his son was sure he would get a medal. "I spoke to him and he sounded calm. He told me he will get a medal today. He was not sure which one but he said he will get one for sure," the proud father said. (Read: He was sure of a medal, says Vijay Kumar's father)

He also said that since his son's success in USA, where he took a silver in the World Cup, Vijay has been delivering consistently. This medal, however, was the crowning glory, he said.

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India's win would give them confidence, but bowling still a worry
Views ::216 It required Gautam Gambhir�s patience and Suresh Raina�s brilliance to maintain India�s good run at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. A target above 280 had never been overhauled in a day-night game at the venue and a spirited run-chase by the Indian�s has re-written the records. Gambhir�s knock laid a solid foundation and rallied the innings, but it was Raina�s blitz that gave the finishing touches. After the hammering at Hambantota in the second One-Day International (ODI), this performance would reassure India and give them the confidence to raise the bar in the games to come.

Prior to this game, the highest total chased at Premadasa was 271 by India against England in the 2002 Champions Trophy. Although, a number of teams have successfully chased totals at the said venue after the 2011 World Cup, a score of 250 was never overhauled in the period. Thus, India�s triumphant charge in the third ODI is remarkable as not only did they win from a tricky situation, but also battled the odds stacked against them.

Gambhir started from where he left off at Hambantota � where his fighting 65 was the only positive in an otherwise forgettable performance. In the face of a daunting target, Virender Sehwag�s early dismissal was a huge blow. But, Gambhir took the attack to the opposition and kept India at par with the asking rate. He charged down the track on a few occasions to put pressure on the bowlers and it set the tone for his knock. Even when the asking rate was rising, Gambhir maintained a good pace and kept the scoreboard ticking.

One can understand the true value of Gambhir�s knock by comparing it with Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni�s stay. Both struggled to push the tempo and weren�t able to score as fluently as they usually do. Kohli�s 65-ball 38 was a real surprise, considering the fact that he is in the middle of a purple patch. On the other hand, Dhoni was probably building towards a flourish � a strategy he has successfully employed in the past. However, a Lasith Malinga yorker disturbed his woodwork.

Dhoni�s promotion was a positive move as he took the initiative to partner Gambhir in the run-chase. Some of Dhoni�s memorable knocks have come at the top and such moves always raise expectations of the fans. While Dhoni has been phenomenal when he has batted higher in the order, it is the surprise element that has caught the opposition off-guard. If he does it time and again, that weapon may lose its shock value and his role would be like any other batsmen. The role of a floater allows him a sense of flexibility and the team a cushion to bank upon.

In the long run, a frequent spot at the top may not be the best idea as there are other batsmen who have justified their positions. Raina, Kohli and Rohit Sharma (except the ongoing series) have done well at numbers before Dhoni and replacing them would also mean break their rhythm. An occasional shuffle is always welcome though. Even if Dhoni bats lower down the order, there is some sense of stability as he can take the team close and more often than not finish the game.

A third consecutive failure for Rohit has sparked more suggestions for his axing. When things don�t go your way, the first delivery you face is a toe crusher from the world�s most dangerous limited-overs bowler. He may have been unlucky on this occasion, but his two previous failures have certainly pushed him in the corner. The pressure to axe him has intensified particularly because Manoj Tiwary and Ajinkya Rahane are waiting in the wings.

However, the critic must ask himself the question: Are we being too harsh on Rohit? After all, he won two man-of-the series awards last year. In Australia, he got a raw-deal in the Test series and the long wait on the bench affected his form. He had a decent Asia Cup where his match-winning fifty against Pakistan helped Kohli seal a fantastic triumph. Considering these facts, Rohit may deserve more chances. However, when one brings Tiwary into the picture and the fact that he has scored a hundred in his last ODI, the arguments to persist with Rohit weaken big time.

Raina has become India�s go-to man as a soaring asking rate doesn�t daunt him. Instead, it allows him the freedom to express himself. If India are batting first, he comes in to provide the finishing touches and power the team to a higher pedestal. While chasing, Raina can help win games with some belligerent batting that takes the opposition by storm. While people may question his technique against the short ball, there are no doubts about his ODI credentials. If he can work on that aspect of his game, he would make a much stronger player with the ability to succeed in all conditions.

The Indian bowling is yet to mark a tick in the box. Some bowlers have done well individually, but their effort as a unit needs to improve. They allowed Sri Lanka to a big score as the hosts launched an attack in the slog overs. Zaheer Khan�s performance was stable, while Irfan Pathan is still finding his best touch. However, a cool knock with the bat in a successful run-chase would do his confidence a world of good. The only problem is the enthusiastic Indian fan may prematurely announce the re-discovery of a genuine all-rounder.
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By Nishad Pai Vaidya It required Gautam Gambhir�s patience and Suresh Raina�s brilliance to maintain India�s good run at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. A target above 280 had never been overhauled in a day-night game at the venue and a spirited
Views ::220 By Nishad Pai Vaidya

It required Gautam Gambhir�s patience and Suresh Raina�s brilliance to maintain India�s good run at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. A target above 280 had never been overhauled in a day-night game at the venue and a spirited run-chase by the Indian�s has re-written the records. Gambhir�s knock laid a solid foundation and rallied the innings, but it was Raina�s blitz that gave the finishing touches. After the hammering at Hambantota in the second One-Day International (ODI), this performance would reassure India and give them the confidence to raise the bar in the games to come.

Prior to this game, the highest total chased at Premadasa was 271 by India against England in the 2002 Champions Trophy. Although, a number of teams have successfully chased totals at the said venue after the 2011 World Cup, a score of 250 was never overhauled in the period. Thus, India�s triumphant charge in the third ODI is remarkable as not only did they win from a tricky situation, but also battled the odds stacked against them.

Gambhir started from where he left off at Hambantota � where his fighting 65 was the only positive in an otherwise forgettable performance. In the face of a daunting target, Virender Sehwag�s early dismissal was a huge blow. But, Gambhir took the attack to the opposition and kept India at par with the asking rate. He charged down the track on a few occasions to put pressure on the bowlers and it set the tone for his knock. Even when the asking rate was rising, Gambhir maintained a good pace and kept the scoreboard ticking.

One can understand the true value of Gambhir�s knock by comparing it with Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni�s stay. Both struggled to push the tempo and weren�t able to score as fluently as they usually do. Kohli�s 65-ball 38 was a real surprise, considering the fact that he is in the middle of a purple patch. On the other hand, Dhoni was probably building towards a flourish � a strategy he has successfully employed in the past. However, a Lasith Malinga yorker disturbed his woodwork.

Dhoni�s promotion was a positive move as he took the initiative to partner Gambhir in the run-chase. Some of Dhoni�s memorable knocks have come at the top and such moves always raise expectations of the fans. While Dhoni has been phenomenal when he has batted higher in the order, it is the surprise element that has caught the opposition off-guard. If he does it time and again, that weapon may lose its shock value and his role would be like any other batsmen. The role of a floater allows him a sense of flexibility and the team a cushion to bank upon.

In the long run, a frequent spot at the top may not be the best idea as there are other batsmen who have justified their positions. Raina, Kohli and Rohit Sharma (except the ongoing series) have done well at numbers before Dhoni and replacing them would also mean break their rhythm. An occasional shuffle is always welcome though. Even if Dhoni bats lower down the order, there is some sense of stability as he can take the team close and more often than not finish the game.

A third consecutive failure for Rohit has sparked more suggestions for his axing. When things don�t go your way, the first delivery you face is a toe crusher from the world�s most dangerous limited-overs bowler. He may have been unlucky on this occasion, but his two previous failures have certainly pushed him in the corner. The pressure to axe him has intensified particularly because Manoj Tiwary and Ajinkya Rahane are waiting in the wings.

However, the critic must ask himself the question: Are we being too harsh on Rohit? After all, he won two man-of-the series awards last year. In Australia, he got a raw-deal in the Test series and the long wait on the bench affected his form. He had a decent Asia Cup where his match-winning fifty against Pakistan helped Kohli seal a fantastic triumph. Considering these facts, Rohit may deserve more chances. However, when one brings Tiwary into the picture and the fact that he has scored a hundred in his last ODI, the arguments to persist with Rohit weaken big time.

Raina has become India�s go-to man as a soaring asking rate doesn�t daunt him. Instead, it allows him the freedom to express himself. If India are batting first, he comes in to provide the finishing touches and power the team to a higher pedestal. While chasing, Raina can help win games with some belligerent batting that takes the opposition by storm. While people may question his technique against the short ball, there are no doubts about his ODI credentials. If he can work on that aspect of his game, he would make a much stronger player with the ability to succeed in all conditions.

The Indian bowling is yet to mark a tick in the box. Some bowlers have done well individually, but their effort as a unit needs to improve. They allowed Sri Lanka to a big score as the hosts launched an attack in the slog overs. Zaheer Khan�s performance was stable, while Irfan Pathan is still finding his best touch. However, a cool knock with the bat in a successful run-chase would do his confidence a world of good. The only problem is the enthusiastic Indian fan may prematurely announce the re-discovery of a genuine all-rounder.
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Tough draw for Indians in men's doubles tennis
Views ::147 London: Indian men's doubles pairs of Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, and Leander Paes and Vishnu Vardhan have been handed a tough first round match in the tennis event at the London Olympics.

Olympics 2012 | Schedule | India at Olympics | Medals Tally

Bhupathi-Bopanna are seeded seventh and face Belarus's Max Mirnyi and Alexander Bury in the first round starting on Saturday.

The unseeded duo of Paes-Vardhan will take on the Dutch pairing of Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer in the 32-team draw that was announced in London on Thursday.

Wild card Somdev Devvarman, India's sole singles representative at the Olympics, will meet Finland's Jarko Nieminen in the men's singles event beginning on Sunday.

The women's doubles combination of Sania Mirza and Rushmi Chakravarthi begin their challenge against Su-Wei Hsieh and Chia-Jung Chuang of Chinese Taipei.

In the men's doubles, the Indians will have to play out of their skins for a podium finish. Bhupathi-Bopanna will play either Britain's Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins or Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet if they clear the first hurdle.

They are drawn to meet third seeds Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic from Serbia in the quarterfinals.

The going will be tougher for Paes and Vardhan, who will run into second seeded French pairing of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra in the second round.

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London Olympics: Deepika Kumari Aiming For Olympic Gold
Views ::147 It didn't come as a surprise to many when Deepika Kumari, the world No. 1 archer from Jharkhand, recently said being at the top of the world rankings doesn't matter much to her and her sole aim is to win a medal for the country at the London Olympics.

"I'm not that happy with the number one ranking; I mean it is okay but I will be happy only when we get a gold in the Olympics," said Deepika in a recent interview.

The 18-year-old, who was crowned the No. 1 following her victory over Korea's Lee Sung Jin by six set points to four in the final of the individual recurve event at the World Cup at Antalya, Turkey, has overcome all odds to reach this far and is already an inspiration to India's many young athletes who want to make big despite having a modest background.

Being born to Shivnarayan Mahato, an auto-rickshaw driver and Geeta Mahato, a nurse in Ranchi Medical College, life has never been easy for Deepika. But the gutsy archer never gave up and practiced with whatever little infrastructure she had.

Participating in her first Olympics, Deepika knows the biggest stage is set for her and her target is to hit the bull's eye and finish at the top of the podium. "I can't express what an Olympic medal means to me, it is my dream, my life. Ever since I became a sportsperson, I have been dreaming of an Olympic medal," Deepika, aTata Archery Academy (TAA) alumnus, said.

The teenage archer, whose professional archery journey began in the year 2006, has worked on the technical aspect of her game and is now upbeat of her chances at the mega event. "This is my first Olympics, but I don't have any pressure on me. I am confident of my game and will give my 100 per cent to win a medal," she added.

Over the years, archers from Korea have a stronghold on the global stage and Deepika knows that in London she will be pitted not just against the Korean challenge but also against tough - cold and windy - weather conditions. "The competition will be very tough but I am confident,� she said. "The weather will play a big role since our game is outdoor and in London the weather changes very frequently. But we can handle it."

Other than the individual recurve event, Deepika will also compete in the team event in London with fellow and much-experienced archers Chekrawolu Swuro and Laishram Bombayala Devi. "Our combination is very good, we have improved a lot and we have reached a level where we can compete against the best," she said.

Winning gold in both the individual and team event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi has been, definitely, one of the major highlights of Deepika's career so far, but a medal at the Olympics could etch her name forever in the history of Indian sports. .

India Sri Lanka Finals Cricket World Cup 2011 HD

PAK V INDIA SEMI FINAL ANTHEMS