India at 2008’s Beijing Olympics(1)
Saturday, 9th August, 2008
Opening Ceremony It was the entertaining show of colors and splendor that presented a breathtaking view at the opening ceremony of 2008’s Beijing Olympic games at the National Stadium, known as Bird’s Nest. More than 90,000 spectators including many dignitaries from all of the world attended the opening ceremony of the games in which more than 10,000 player from 204 countries are participating. Only 25 years ago China had not won even a single medal in the games and now it is hosting the even that marks its emergence as a world power. March past of the players started with the players of Greece , the birth place of the Olympic games, were the first to enter the stadium as it is the tradition. And the last was the host country, China. After the start Beijing has become the center of attention for whole of the world and the focus is on sports. It completely follows the theme of the Beijing games ,’one world one dream’ as thousands of players from all of the world are participating in the games with one aim.
India Indian contingent was led by Lt.Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore the silver medalist of the Athens Olympic games of 2004. India started with a dismal note on Saturday morning as its medal hopes dashed with the failure of Anjali Bhagwat, Avneet Kaur to enter the final of Women’s 10m Air Rifle event. Anjali Bhagwat is participating in her third Olympic games and has never succeeded in winning a medal. But it was a world class competions as half of the shooters had scored well. They ended with the 29th and 39th positions respectively. One the other hand Samresh Jung also disappointed when he failed to repeat his performance of 2006’s Commonwealth games and ended only with the 42nd position in men’s air pistol event. Juduca Tombi Khumujam Devi also crashed out in her first match as her challenge lasted only for two and a half minute against Ana Hormigo of Portugal.
First gold medal of the Beijing Olympics has been won by Czech Republic’s Katerina Emmons in women’s 10m air rifle event at 503.5.

