The 14 gold medals India won at Guangzhou four years ago was the country's best show ever at the Asian Games. And though the list of athletes has gone through some serious chopping before arriving at the final size of the contingent, hopes of improving the medal haul at Incheon remains high.
516 athletes and 163 coaches and support staff are in Incheon hunting gold for India, who will participate in a total of 28 disciplines as against 35 last time, and here are some of the names that are expected to throw a serious challenge in that endeavour:
Yogeshwar Dutt (Wrestling): Yogeshwar was on a roll in Glasgow, ramming past his opponents to win gold almost unchallenged. But one of India's biggest gold-medal hopes at Incheon after Sushil Kumar pulled out of the event, Dutt will have to end India's 28-year wait for a wrestling gold, which it last won in 1986 with Kartar Singh. Dutt, who will wrestle in the 65kg freestyle, won bronze at the 2006 Games but skipped the 2010 Asiad at Guangzhou.
Kabaddi: India have swept the Kabaddi gold in all the editions of the quadrennial event since the sport was included in its roster for Beijing 1990. Since then India have won all six gold medals to stay the unprecedented champions of the sport. Kabaddi was added to the women's draw in Guangzhou four years ago, where too India bagged gold. Expect the same to be repeated this time for both men and women.
Vikas Gowda (discus throw): The 6-feet-9 giant is an intimidating sight when in position to throw the discus. After his CWG gold, the Indian - who grew up in Maryland, USA - has a lot of hopes attached for a medal at Incheon. But he will be hard pressed by Iran's Ehsan Hadadi, who is expected to be his main competitor in an effort to hit the 65-metre mark.
Abhinav Bindra (Shooting): India's only individual Olympic gold medallist has had an up-and-down run of late. He won gold at the CWG after announcing that it will be his last appearance at the event. However, he failed to make it to the finals at the world championships. Playing possibly his last Asiad as well, Bindra will leave no stone unturned for another 'golden' farewell.
Men's Hockey Team: Sardar Singh will lead the Indian hockey team in Incheon, where a direct entry to the Olympics comes with the gold medal. The eight-time Olympic champions have won the Asian Games gold only twice, both times in Bangkok in 1966 and 1998. They finished third in Guangzhou four years ago, behind champions Pakistan and runners-up Malaysia. But ranked No. 1 at the event, the Indian team looks primed to win their first Asiad gold in 16 years.
Amit Kumar (wrestling): The young Indian wrestler, who is spoken of very highly in the sport, won gold in the 57kg Freestyle category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and is now all pumped up for Incheon.
Jitu Rai (shooting): Ace shooter Rai, who followed his Glasgow gold with a silver in the 50m pistol event at the World Championships, is now aiming for gold at the Asiad. And ranked as world No. 1 pistol shooter, he has every reason to believe he can win the yellow metal.
Parupalli Kashyap (badminton): Fresh from his emotion-filled gold medal-winning feat in Glasgow, the ace Indian shuttler is hopeful of a good show in the Asian Games as well.
PV Sindhu (badminton): After a historic second bronze at the World Championships, Sindhu in no way can be counted less than compatriot Saina Nehwal; in fact, on form, she appears a better medal prospect than Saina at the moment.
Gagan Narang (shooting): He bagged a silver and a bronze in 50-metre Rifle Prone and 50-metre Rifle 3 Position, respectively, at the Glasgow CWG and says its time to switch gears for the Asian Games.
Preeja Sreedharan (athletics): Preeja surprised many four years ago at Guangzhou, where she got the better of Shitaye Eshete, an Ethiopian who competed for Bahrain, to win gold in the 10000m event. This year she is going for 5000m as well and can be banked upon for a medal in at least one of the events.
MC Marykom (boxing): She has been soaring up the popularity charts after her recent biopic, but the Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer is all set for the Asian Games after the disappointment of failing to qualify for Glasgow.
Deepika Kumari (archery): Having missed out on a bronze medal in Guangzhou four years ago, the Indian recurve archer and former world number one will look to open her account in the individual event at the Asian Games in Incheon. However, she will have to ward off a strong challenge from the Chinese and Korean archers.
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