Abhinav Bindra Best bet for India's golden dreams at Rio Olympics

Rio de Janeiro: With India's largest contingent travelling to the 2016 Summer Olympics here, billions back home will hope that the blend of experience, youth and debutants participating in the Games will go the extra mile and script history in the biggest extravaganza in the world of sports.

With Indians participating in a larger number of disciplines in this edition of the Games, the country will aim to better its medals tally from the 2012 London Olympics and make it double digit this time around. India won six medals at London, their highest haul so far.

The Rio Olympics will run from August 5 to 21.

The biggest and by far the best bet for India's golden dreams at the Olympics would be ace shooter Abhinav Bindra.

His 2008 Beijing Olympics gold is the only top individual honour for India at the Games and this time around he remains a strong medal prospect. He has also won the gold medal at the ISSF World Shooting Championship in 2006 and another gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Gagan Narang, another star shooter, is also a strong medal contender. He had claimed a bronze at the London Games and will look for gold this time.

Star shooter Jitu Rai is also in with a strong chance to win a medal in the men's 50m and 10m pistol events. He will make his debut in the Games. He remains a strong contender after he won a gold medal in the 10m air rifle at the ISSF World Cup earlier this year.

Wrestling is another sport where Indians have emerged as strong contenders in recent years. Veteran Yogeshwar Dutt, who bagged a gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games is probably India's best bet for a medal.

The 33-year-old from Haryana clinched the bronze medal in the 60kg freestyle category in the last Olympics and will aim to get the top honour in the 65kg division here.