Rio Olympics: The Big Stars Who Will be Missed

A 119-member strong Indian contingent will be taking part in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro from August 5. However, the Indian squad will miss some of the big names who could not make it to be a part of this quadrennial sport extravaganza. Here are the five names whose absence will be felt.

1. Sushil Kumar (Wrestling): Hands down the biggest missing Indian star at the Rio Olympics. The only Indian athlete to have won two individual Olympic medals was involved in a bitter fight outside the wrestling pit with fellow wrestler Narsingh Yadav, on who will represent India in Rio in the Men's 74 kg category. Narsingh won the quota, whereas Sushil hadn't competed since the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Sushil wanted trials to be held and even moved the Delhi High Court. But his plea was turned down, ending his Rio dreams

2. MC Mary Kom (Women's boxing): The first Indian female boxer to win an Olympic medal and the biggest name in Indian women's boxing. MC Mary Kom who won a bronze medal in London four years ago, lost in the second round of the World Championship in May this year, thereby failing to book an Olympic berth. The All India Boxing Association tried to get a wild card for Mary, but that request was turned down. The five time world champion was eyeing the Rio Games perhaps as her swansong, but has decided not to retire for now.

3. Vijay Kumar (Shooting): Army marksman Vijay Kumar was one of the biggest Indian stars of the London Olympics in 2012. The 30-year-old Olympic silver medallist though failed to book a berth in the Olympic Qualifying Competition in January this year. But then Vijay has had to go through a lot, since winning the silver medal in the 2012 edition. The 25m rapid fire pistol shooter had to undergo two surgeries, a complete rehabilitation process and an overhaul of his technique due to a slip disc that he suffered in 2014.

4. Ronjan Sodhi (Shooting): At Number 4 is another shooter, Ronjan Sodhi. The Former World Number 1 and Asian Games champion, who won the National Games double trap gold in Kerala last year was one of the big hopes in London four years ago. However, he put up a below-par performance, failing to make it to the final. In fact, the 36-year-old double trap shooter has been out of form for a while now, failing to make the squad for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014. But Sodhi, the two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist is one of the most experienced shooters in the country and his absence does leave a hole in the shooting squad.

5. Parupalli Kashyap (Badminton): A big name missing from the badminton courts in Rio will be Parupalli Kashyap. India's leading male badminton player saw his Olympic dreams go up in smoke in a heartbreaking fashion. A serious knee injury sustained at the German Open did not heal in time for the Commonwealth Games gold medallist to push up his world ranking to the Top 16. A top 16 place by May 4 would have ensured a second Olympic outing for the 29-year-old from Hyderabad. Considering Kashyap made the quarter-finals of the last edition of the Games in London, he will be one of India's main missing stars in Rio.

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