Upbeat Indian athletes are stress-free as Asian Games all set to kick off today

India players at the Athletes' food hall in Jakarta yesterday. Pic/Ashwin Ferro

The mood was rather relaxed at the Athletes Village here yesterday on the eve of the 18th Asian Games. Some of the near-17 thousand athletes and officials were seen in team huddles probably discussing strategy, some strolling around in pairs, others chatting under trees, while some simply smiling around the massive complex that features 15 multi-storeyed towers fitted with 7,426 residential units that can accommodate over 20,000 people.

This is in stark contrast to the mood that will be prevalent across the dozen-plus venues that will host over 40 sporting disciplines across the next fortnight. Among the prominent Indian athletes on view were some of the badminton players and wrestlers, all of whom seemed confident of a fine show. Doubles shuttler Sikki Reddy said that the contingent is happy with the facilities and is eager to compete with Asia's best. "We have been training hard. The facilities are great and we are looking forward to the Games," she said.

2012 London Olympics bronze medal-winning shuttler, Saina Nehwal too was all smiles, though a tad tired after a lengthy training session. "We've been training since 6 am. I need some rest now," she said.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia said that he has put in more than the hard yards in the last few days. "There will be no shortage of effort from my end. The rest is in the hands of the Almighty," said the 65kg category grappler Punia, who arrives in the Indonesian capital on the back of a double gold medal-winning show last month, where he won top honours at the Tbilisi Grand Prix in Georgia followed by gold in the Yasar Dogu event in Istanbul, Turkey.

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