C'wealth winners train
sights on Asiad

After the stupendous performance at the 17th Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Indian athletes are looking forward to next month's Asian Games, though they admit they face a more 'daunting task'.

Some of the shooters, who won 14 of the 32 gold medals at Manchester, affirmed that the Asian Games will be an altogether different arena where competition is bound to be tougher.

"Though the points we scored at the Commonwealth Games might be enough to fetch us medals at the Asian Games, we will need to work harder to get the gold there," said ace shooter Jaspal Rana, who bagged four gold medals and a silver and bronze at the Manchester Games.

"China and Korea will be there and they could prove tougher opponents," he added.

Another Commonwealth Games shooting success, Anjali (Vedpathak) Bhagwat, however, sounded more optimistic.

"We have improved drastically over the past two years. At present we are on par with top shooters of the world. There is no reason why we can't win medals," she said.

Apart from shooting, India will also face a tougher challenge in women's hockey. Though the team overcame strong opponents in South Africa, New Zealand and England on way to winning the gold at Manchester, it will have South Korea, China and Japan to contend with at the Busan Asiad.

"We are happy to win the gold. We are looking forward to the Asian Games," declared India's young, livewire forward Mamata Kharab, who scored the golden goal against England in the final to give India a 3-2 victory.

Kharab also scored the golden goal against South Africa, which earned the side a place in the semi-finals.

Though China could pose a threat to India's prospects in weightlifting, leading woman lifter N Kunjarani Devi said the performance at Manchester would boost the morale of the team.

"It will help us to bring more laurels to the country," said the ace lifter, who returned from Manchester with three gold medals in the 48 kg class.

Pal Singh Sandhu, coach for the women's lifters, said his wards would undergo strenuous training before the Asian Games.

"We will put them under more training at Patiala. We want to maintain our winning streak," he added.

But despite the success, facilities are still lacking, which could hamper India's chances at Busan. For instance, the shooters are still groping for better quality ammunition.

"Through practice and hard work we have attained perfection. Availability of better quality ammunition would make us more potent at the international level," said Suma Shirur, who won of a couple of shooting medals, including a gold at the Commonwealth Games.

However, boxing gold medallist Mohammad Ali Qamar summed up the determination to maintain the fine showing at the Asiad, saying: "We will play aggressively to win at Busan."