The likes of PR Sreejesh and Sharath Kamal could be making their last appearance at the Asian Games this year.
The upcoming Asian Games is going to be a great opportunity for India to showcase its standing across some of the biggest sports and assess the performances of athletes on a continental level. It is expected to be extremely vital heading into the Paris Olympics next year.
However, this year’s Asian Games could also be the platform for one last hurrah for several top Indian athletes who have poured their heart and soul for their nation on multiple occasions.
These athletes continue to pull of world class performances and they have proven time and time again that age is not a barrier at the highest level in sports. Moreover, given that this will be their final time in the limelight at the continental level, they would love to bow out with a medal to close out their Asian Games career.
But who are these athletes and how have their performances been at the Asian Games so far? Let’s discuss:
Rohan Bopanna - Rohan Bopanna has been on a quest to turn back the clocks. The 43-year-old tennis veteran has been making a lot of noise in the men’s doubles circuit this season. Only recently, he had managed to make his way to the final of the US Open along with his partner Matthew Ebden before falling just short. He had also qualified for the semis of the Wimbledon before that.
Bopanna also bid goodbye to the Davis Cup on a winning note on Sunday and this year’s Asian Games is expected to be his last appearance. Bopanna had made his debut at the continental stage way back in 2002 and he arrives to Hangzhou as the defending champion after winning the gold medal in 2018 along with Divij Sharan.
PR Sreejesh - Now well into the twilight of his career, PR Sreejesh admitted last month that he is taking it slow - one tournament at a time. The custodian of the Indian goal will be making his final Asian Games appearance this month and it will definitely be his last chance at the continental showpiece. There is no doubt that the leader of the men’s hockey team will be giving it his all in search of gold and in order to secure a direct qualification to the Paris Olympic Games next year.
Having made his debut for India in 2006, Sreejesh has 301 international caps to his name. He was also extremely instrumental in India winning an Olympic medal after four decades and his form will be crucial if the team is to regain the gold after settling for a disappointing bronze in Jakarta five years ago.
Sharath Kamal - All eyes will be on 41-year-old Sharath Kamal as the table tennis superstar will be looking to add to his tally of two Asian Games medals. This will be his fifth and final appearance on the continental stage.
He had found plenty of success at the Commonwealth Games last year where he won as many as three gold medals. The run-up to the Asian Games this year hasn’t exactly been smooth for Sharath but he is known to raise his game when the stakes are high.
Ankita Raina - Even though this could be her final Asian Games, Ankita Raina is expected to be a medal contender in tennis. She became only the second Indian female tennis player after Sania Mirza to win a singles medal at the Asian Games when she secured a bronze in the 2018 edition.
Raina is also likely to feature in the women's doubles and mixed doubles event.
Dipika Pallikal - Dipika Pallikal will be taking part in her fourth and final Asian Games. Now a mother of two children, Pallikal will be seen competing in the mixed doubles category along with Harinderpal Sandhu.
She has two singles and two doubles medals to her name at the Asian Games. The former world number 10 and Sandhu had an ideal build up to the Games by winning the test event in Hangzhou in June.
Pallikal also won a mixed doubles bronze in the Commonwealth Games and is determined to end her Asian Games career with another medal.