Three medals for a billion-strong country which aspires to be a global super power may not trigger wild celebration back.
With Abhinav Bindra finally shedding the under-achiever’s tag, Sushil Kumar rising from obscurity to prominence and the Akhil Kumar-led boxing trio of Bhiwani emerging as lord of the rings, India went on to complete its best ever Olympic campaign with one gold and a couple of bronze medals.
India could have finished with a couple of more medals but Akhil Kumar tripped on a Moldovan banana skin and his braveheart Jitender stepped into ring with 10 stitches on his chin which won him many hearts but not the bout.
Wrestler Sushil Kumar brought smiles back to the Indian camp by winning the 66kg freestyle bronze and it was an incredible comeback by the grappler who lost his first round bout to eventual silver medallist but went on to win three repechage round bouts in 70 minutes.
The same day, Vijender (75kg) made history by becoming the first Indian boxer to assure himself of an Olympic medal. Though he could not convert the hue of the medal and had to be satisfied with the bronze, it was nonetheless an epoch-making win.
Akhil and Jitender too could have returned with a medal dangling from their neck but they faltered in the quarterfinal hurdle, losing to two cunning boxers.
