Indians brimming with confidence at Beijing

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) Exuding confidence to perform well at the Beijing Olympics, the Indian sporting fraternity is hoping to find new heroes in the mega event which gets underway from August 8.

World Champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu, who make up India's best hope for medals, said, ''I have very high hopes of myself and I have high hopes of all my colleagues in the Indian shooting team.

''We have a very strong contingent and to an extent the expectation is justified,'' Sandhu, who is one among the nine Beijing-bound shooters, said.

World number one doubles pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who pair up for the first time in the Olympics after a stormy break-up, are exuding with confidence for a medal.

''I am really looking forward to it. I am peaking well at the moment I am feeling physically ready for it. Fingers crossed and a lot of hard work and we will be ready to go,'' Paes said.

The Indian boxers are too hoping to win a medal this time in the Olympics.

Middleweight boxer Vijender Singh beat the reigning Olympic champion this year and the experienced Akhil Kumar is going with the tag of Asia's best boxer, and a gold medal from the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

''I am the best. I have to win a medal and I will try my best to win a medal. It is my dream and the time has come to fulfill it,'' a confident Kumar said.

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