India names 57-member squad for Beijing Olympics

New Delhi: Reena Kumari's Olympic hopes are all but over with the archer failing to make it to the list of 57 athletes who will represent India in Beijing.

Reena, who met Sports Minister MS Gill claiming foul play in the selection process, was left out of the archery contingent which includes Dola Banerjee, Pranitha Vardhineni and L Bombayala Devi, apart from the lone male competitor in Mangal Singh Champia.

A 42-member support staff would accompany the contingent, according to sources.

The 17-member athletics contingent, spearheaded by ace long jumper Anju Bobby George, is the largest of all.

Shooting comes next with nine Indians, including Athens Silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, gunning for glory.

India will also be fielding its largest ever boxing team and of the quintet, Vijender looks the best bet, especially after his red hot form in recent past.

Though the Indian swimmers are yet to make a splash, as many as four of them would be part of the field in Beijing.

The number is same in tennis as well where Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Sunitha Rao would have to live up to the expectation.

The contingent will also include three grapplers and as many rowers. Two Indians each will represent the country in table tennis, judo and badminton, while weightlifting and yachting will have one each.

India’s Olympic team:

Archery: Dola Banerjee, Pranitha Vardhineni, L Bombayala Devi, Mangal Singh Champia.

Athletics: Anju Bobby George (Long Jump), Krishna Poonia (Discus), Harwant Kaur (Discus), Preeja Sreedharan (10,000m), Manjit Kaur (400m), Chitra Soman (4x400m relay), Sini Jose (4x400m relay), MR Poovamma (4x400m relay), Mandeep Kaur (4x400m relay), S Geeta (4x400m relay), K Mridula (4x400m relay), J J Shobha (Heptathlon), Sushmita Singh Roy (Heptathlon), G G Pramila (Heptathlon), Vikas Gowda (Discus), Renjith Maheswary (Triple Jump), Surender Singh (10000m).

Badminton: Anup Sridhar, Saina Nehwal

Boxing: Jitender (51kg), Akhil Kumar (54kg), A L Lakhra (57kg), Vijender(75kg) and Dinesh Kumar (81kg)

Judo: Khumujam Tombi Devi, Divya. Rowing: Bajrang Lal Takhar (Single M1X), Devnder Khandwal and Manjeet Singh (Light Weight Double Scull).

Shooting: Manavjit Singh Sandhu (Clay Pigeon Trap), Mansher Singh (Clay Pigeon Trap), Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Clay Pigeon Double Trap), Gagan Narang (10m Air Rifle), Abhinav Bindra (10m Air Rifle), Samresh Jung (10m Air Pistol), Sanjeev Rajput (50m Rifle 3 Position), Anjali Bhagwat (50m Rifle 3 Position), Avneet Kaur Sidhu (10m Air Rifle).

Swimming: Virdhaval Khade (50m, 100m, 200m Freestyle), Ankur Poseria (100m Butterfly), Sandeep Sejwal (100m, 200m Breaststrokes), Rehan Poncha (200m butterfly).

Table Tennis: Achanta Sharath Kamal, Neha Aggarwal.

Tennis: Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi (doubles), Sania Mirza (singles and doubles), Sunitha Rao (doubles). Weightlifting: L Monika Devi (69kg)

Wrestling: Sushil Kumar (66 kg Freestyle), Yogeshwar Dutt (60 kg Freestyle), Rajiv Tomar (120 kg Freestyle).

Yachting: Major NS Johal (Heavyweight Dinghy).