5 Indian male athletes who can shine at Asian Games 2018

With an overall tally of 26 gold, 20 silver and an equal number of bronze medals, India has finished an impressive 3rd overall in the medals tally of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, only behind hosts Australia and England. With the athletes performing to the best of the abilities, and some showing promise for a bright future, India has had more than a successful outing.

However, what stood out were the performances of some Indian athletes, who have set the bar much higher than one could imagine. As such, keeping in mind the upcoming Jakarta Asian Games, which are termed as the 'Mini Olympics', owing to their high benchmarks, one would love to see people performing to the best of their capabilities at this event.

Here are the top 5 Indian male athletes, who performed superbly at Gold Coast CWG 2018, and promise the same show at Asian Games 2018:-

#5 Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra :

This suave and smart Naib Subedar performed up to the expectations, delivering India's first ever gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in the men's javelin throw, throwing to almost the length that set a new world record at the World U20 Athletics Championships in 2016, i.e. 86.47 m.

Having put aside the setback of the London World Championships 2017, where he failed to make it to the finals, Neeraj was a class apart at Gold Coast, securing the lead with his very first throw. Interestingly, had Neeraj thrown his best attempt at the Incheon Asiad, held in 2014, he would very well have earned a silver medal, if nothing else, since the original silver medalist had thrown only till the length of 84.42 m.

Given that Neeraj is consistently throwing the javelin beyond 83 m., it wouldn't be a surprise if he lands a historic medal at the Jakarta Asiad, even a gold if possible. But for that, Neeraj would have to make it beyond the 87 m. mark, if he wishes to be counted as the undisputed Asian champion.

#4 Anish Bhanwala

Anish

Bhanwala :

A young champion in making

This young colt is one of the best shooters India has seen in the rapid fire pistol event after the legendary Subedar Major [now retired Honorary Captain] Vijay Kumar, who had clinched a historic silver at the London Olympics 2012. All of 15 years, the Khelo India champion pummeled opponents much bigger in size as well as spirit, to clinch the gold medal for the Men's 25 m. rapid fire pistol event, a first in 8 years.

Interestingly, he scored a total of 30 in the finals, which is not only a Games record but also a score that would be enough to land a silver medal at the Asian Games, had he scored the same at Incheon Asiad in 2014. Interestingly, the same score would've compelled a shoot off between him and the possible silver medalist from Rio Olympics 2016, since the silver medalist, Jean Quiquampoix from France had shot the exact score to get the medal.

Though it's easier said than done, Anish has shown lots of promise at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and we hope that he performs on the same level at the Jakarta Asiad.

#3 Jitu Rai

Jitu

Rai :

The flagbearer of Indian shooting at Jakarta Asiad

Having put the heartbreak of missing the medal in Rio Olympics behind, the short but gritty Naib Subedar from Gurkha Rifles, Jitu Rai, is all set for another brilliant show at the Jakarta Asian Games. The gold medals from ISSF World Cup, as well as the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, will certainly provide a shot in his arm.

Having won a gold medal in the Men's 50 m. pistol in the previous edition, Jitu will now focus on the 10 m. air pistol category, where he become only the second Indian to enter the finals of an Olympics pistol shooting event by making the cut at Rio 2016.

Though he was eliminated in the first leg itself, Jitu has put the sorrow behind and is up for another fight at the Asiad, given that his pet event, Men's 50 m. pistol will no longer be a part of the Summer Olympics from Tokyo 2020. If he manages a gold in the 10 m. event, Jitu is surely up for a contention at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics 2020. All eyes are on Jitu, who will spearhead the Indian shooting challenge at the Jakarta Asiad.

#2 Bajrang Punia

Can Bajrang step into the shoes of his idol Yogeshwar Dutt at the Asiad?

An able disciple and successor of the legendary wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, this grossly underrated wrestler, who has a World Wrestling Championship bronze and a World Under 23 Wrestling Championships silver medal to his credit, Bajrang Punia, who is also an Asian Games silver medalist from the previous edition [in Men's 61 kg. freestyle], is aiming to change the colour of his medal into gold with the upcoming Asiad.

Bajrang Punia, who narrowly missed the podium at the World Championships last year, compensated for it with a historic silver at the junior, under 23 version of the same. He was simply a class apart at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, defeating each of his opponents with elan.

He is certainly looking forward to continuing the same form at Jakarta Asiad, provided he makes the cut, before moving forward to the UWW World Wrestling Championships, to be held in Tehran in early October.

#1 Sushil Kumar

Time for Sushil Kumar to make his mark at the upcoming Asiad

While some may look at this with disdain, and some might wonder if we're being too optimistic, a return to the Asiad arena with a bang would work wonders for Sushil Kumar, who has proved with his flawless performance at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018, that age is just a number.

The journey was not that easy for Sushil, as his comeback was affected by 3 continuous walkovers at the National Championships. However, with a final bout, that lasted merely 80 seconds, Sushil showed that he's no pushover, and he can still be a threat to any world famous wrestler on his day.

Ironically, his illustrious wrestling career has just one Asian Games medal to his credit, which was a bronze medal from the Doha Asiad, held in 2006. So if Sushil manages to make it to the Jakarta Asiad, and even land a podium finish, it will be more than enough to boost his confidence for the upcoming year, i.e. 2019, when the qualifiers for Tokyo Olympics will officially begin.