London, July 24
Multiple medallists at international events can hardly be called nondescript, but that’s what the Indian wrestlers could appear when they’re out of their natural habitat - the gyms with the mats laid out, on which they step with bowed heads and a silent prayer. There they display no ambiguity. They have a sense of purpose, and strong, decisive actions designed to lay their opponent low.

Away from the mats, they could appear a bit lost - at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, for instance. Terminal 3 at the Indira Gandhi airport is big, with high ceilings and tall pillars, and the humans walking its floors puny — the Indian wrestlers seem quite tiny. They are short and squat, the heaviest among the five in the Indian contingent being Narsingh Yadav, at 66kg.

They seemed a bit nondescript and a bit lost on Monday, despite the bulging biceps and cauliflower ears, as they left for Minsk, Belarus, for a training camp before they land in London in the first week of August. They are world travellers, but they wonder which airliner counter they have to go to, they wonder if they should exchange their currency for the pound, euro or dollar.

Yogeshwar Dutt, the 29-year-old, possesses the greatest knowledge, both of the art of wrestling and of the ways of the world.

He assures his younger teammates — Amit and Yadav — that in England you can deal in all currencies, pound, euro and dollar. Sushil Kumar is not yet going to Belarus, and Dutt is the most recognisable of the group. He introduces the others and the coach to the airlines staff or other travellers who recognise and accost him. Dutt says he’s confident of a good show in London. He had competed at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, coming close to a medal in the latter. He lost a close bout in the quarterfinals when he conceded a late point, and he’s determined to do something about that in London.

He good-naturedly accepts bumbling advice — “Remain calm and focused, don’t let pressure affect you, wrestle in your natural style” — from people, and says he’s confident and will try his best to win a medal.

“We’ve been studying the videos of all the competitors in my category,” he told The Tribune. “Obviously, we don’t know at this stage who we’d be taking on when the Games begin. So we’re studying the styles of everyone. The draws would be made after the weigh-ins are done, only then would we know our opponents. I’m quite confident, I think we have a good opportunity to win a few medals,” he adds.

Pudukottai, July 24
Santhi Soundararajan, the 2006 Doha Asian Games 800m silver medallist was stripped of her medal after failing a gender test, now slogs at a brick kiln for a living with a paltry wage.

The athlete claimed Athletics Federation of India had banned her from participating in any event after test and officials had just "abandoned her”. “I was frustrated but have got it over now. My records have been erased. I work hard in brick kiln, earning Rs 200 a day," she said. Santhi said she quit her job as state government coach as the salary was very low. Besides she was appointed on contract basis and her services were not regularised, she said. “I wanted to qualify to become a better coach, but do not have the means to go about it. I am now trying for another government job," said.

Showing her scarred hands filled with boils, Santhi said she works in Kathakuruchi in Pudukottai district with her parents. — PTI

Chandigarh, July 24
For a first-timer like L Devendro Singh, the maiden step into Games village unleashed a motley of emotions. The initial exhilaration of having arrived on the world stage was soon overtaken by awe, intimidation and anxiety that gripped the callow pugilist from Manipur.

Two days into the thick of action, the novelty factor has subsided and it’s training, training and more training for most part of Devendro’s day. The photo sessions around the Games village and along the replica of Olympic flame have been done and kept for posterity. It’s time for the real task: of etching his name on the marquee event.

“It was an indescribable feeling... To be amongst the biggest sporting names of this earth, taking part in the competition, it takes time to get a grip on reality. The entire world will be watching us. There can’t be anything more inspiring than this,” Devendro (49kg ) says while talking to The Tribune from the Games village in London.

The razzmatazz is only going to amplify in the next two days in the run-up to the opening ceremony. Though the 18-year-old Manipur pugilist has not taken off his flaming red rappers’ cap off his head since the time he checked in, his head is steady when it comes to the task at hand. “Where is the time for distractions? Our schedule is totally cramped... Most of the time it’s training and strategy sessions with individual coaches. We are not even getting time to catch up with fellow boxers. I am told archery athletes are putting up next door but I have hardly seen them. Everyone has his own schedule and each one is sticking to it. Though most of the Indian contingent is living nearby, we hardly catch up with them. Whatever precious little time we get is reserved for rest and sleeping,” he adds.

At a time when all roads lead to London, there is bound to be disquiet inside a boxer’s mind and in the outside world too. But this youngster, who hails from a state that is hardly considered mainstream India, seems to be coping just fine. “The weather outside is good… not too cold, not too hot. We were all worried but it is fine here,” he says, adding as an afterthought,

So what keeps Devendro focused at the task at hand? “It has to be the Indian flag on snow-white track suits that leaves a smile on our faces,” he adds. Two more days and he will again proudly wear the Indian flag, this time on his blazer, during the opening ceremony. 

Hambantota, July 24
Sri Lanka exacted a sweet revenge on India with a crushing nine-wicket victory in the second ODI here today, to draw the series level at 1-1. It was an absolutely contrasting performance by the Indian batsmen from their last match, as they were bundled out for a paltry 138 in only 33.3 overs.

Chasing a target of 139, which isn't good enough for even Twenty20 format, openers Upul Tharanga (59 no, 60 balls) and Tillekaratne Dilshan (50, 49 balls, 5x4) added 119 runs as the islanders hardly broke sweat while racing to the target in only 19.5 overs. The win also means that India won't get a shot at No 1 spot in ICC ODI rankings, for which they needed a 5-0 margin in the current series. Save opener Gautam Gambhir, who scored a fighting 65 (96 balls, 4x4), the other batsmen paid heavy price for their indiscretion on a pitch that demanded judicious shot selection. Thisara Perera (3/14) and Angelo Mathews (3/19) ran through the Indian top-order. Although there was a greenish tinge, the pitch, which was primarily on the lower side, also produced the odd deliveries that reared up from the three quarter. — PTI

Kolkata, July 24
Dola Banerjee could not make it to her third straight Olympics but the experienced archer has no doubt that the squad picked for the upcoming London Games is the best to represt India and one that can win the country its first-ever medal in the sport at the mega event.

The former world champion said that she was living her unfulfilled dream through her brother Rahul, one of the three members of the men's team, which also includes Tarundeep Rai and Jayanta Talukdar. — PTI

VENUES

Canoe Slalom Lee Valley White Water Centre, Hertfordshire

Canoe Sprint Eton Dorney, Buckinghamshire

Cycling - Mountain Bike Hadleigh Farm, Essex

Cycling - Road The Mall (Road Race), Box Hill (Road Race), Hampton Court Palace (Time Trial)

Equestrian Greenwich Park

HORSE GUARDS PARADE Beach Volleyball

Located on the Prime Minister's doorstep in central London, Horse Guards Parade provides an iconic location for the London 2012 Beach Volleyball competition. Dating back to 1745, the parade ground takes its name from the soldiers who have provided protection for the monarch since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. 

Basketball Olympic Park - Basketball Arena (initial group phase, women's quarter-finals), North Greenwich Arena (men's quarter-finals, all semi-finals and finals)

Football City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Old Trafford, Manchester, St James' Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne,
Wembley Stadium

Gymnastics - Artistic North Greenwich Arena

Gymnastics - Rhythmic Wembley Arena

Handball Olympic Park - Copper Box (preliminary rounds, women's quarter-finals) Olympic Park - Basketball Arena (men's quarter-finals, all semi-finals and finals)

Modern Pentathlon Copper Box - fencing, Aquatics Centre - swimming, Greenwich Park - riding, combined event

Rowing Eton Dorney, Buckinghamshire

Sailing Weymouth and Portland, Dorset

Trampoline North Greenwich Arena

Triathlon Hyde Park

Volleyball Earls Court

Water Polo Olympic Park - Water Polo Arena

Cycling -BMX Olympic Park - BMX Track

Cycling - Track Olympic Park - Velodrome